Massive demand for Apple's iPhone SDK

13-03-2008

by Charlie Taylor

Developers have been clamouring to get hold of Apple's beta iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK), with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days.

The kit, which provides developers with a set of Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and tools to enable them to create third-party applications for the iPhone, was launched by Apple's head honcho, Steve Jobs, on 6 March.

According to Apple, over 1 million people have watched the launch video for the development kit on its website.

So popular has the SDK proven that some developers reported problems downloading it on the day when it first became available and Apple was forced to e-mail registered developers advising them of problems in obtaining the kit.

Leading software developers such as Electronic Arts, Epocrates, Salesforce and Sega have already demonstrated new applications using the SDK, while other heavy hitters such as Intuit and NetSuite have also said they plan to develop applications for the iPhone using the SDK.

The toolset is available for free and is being distributed first in the US. The developer program is expected to be expanded to other countries later on this year. The final version is due out in June.

Apple has also previewed its new App Store, which will be the only way independent software developers will be able to distribute their software to iPhone users. While developers will be able to set their own retail price for any applications they develop for the iPhone, Apple will be entitled to 30 percent of sales revenues.

The iPhone will launch in Ireland on Friday exclusively on the O2 network.