There has been a lot of announcements at today's Apple iPhone Software Roadmap Event (read: iPhone SDK), we're going to list the main ones after the jump. In summary though it looks like Apple is trying to stimulate a well supported community of serious commercial developers without stifling the homebrew scene as well as support entrenched IT managers at Enterprise level. There are a few caveats, none of which are surprising, that are designed to enable Apple to maintain control over app distribution and the licensing model - none of which affect the current Installer based apps.

So lets just dive right in.

iPhone in the Enterprise

The next iPhone firmware update will include a raft of enterprise grade features and upgrade that won't make a huge difference to end users (except those using Exchange Server) but will make a huge difference to IT managers.  Lack of many of these features in the past has really slowed the iPhone's enterprise penetration. Something Apple has taken very seriously.

• Microsoft Exchange support (iCal conversion, contacts, full support in email app via ActiveSync with Exchange Server, configured via Mail.app)
• Remote wipe, push email, global address lists, Cisco IPsec VPN, Certificates and identities, WPA2 with 802.1x, enforced security policies, and remote device configuration
• Migration team (via Exchange support) to help companies migrate from other platforms (RIM...)
• Additional migration and IT management tools will be released later

Some of these are already deployed in select locations (such as Nike's head office).

Apple Support for Developers

There's a lot of stuff announced for developers indicating Apple's commitment to the development community as it now and will be in the future. Far reaching and long lasting initiatives like the $100M  iFund and changes to Xcode (incorporating the iPhone SDK) will ensure developers have the best starting point for creating higher quality apps compatible with the iPhone.

• A new version of Xcode which includes all the relevant APIs (see below)
• A remote debugger for seeing what your code is doing under the hood on an iPhone
• A drag and drop interface builder (appropriately named InterfaceBuilder)
• An iPhone simulator (for Mac)
• Developers will have access to the same core APIs as used to build the Apple apps including Core OS, Core Services and various Media APIs
• For privacy reasons not all areas of iPhone will be available thus apps will use specialised APIs to access end-user's contacts and photo libraries (People Picker and Image Picker respectively)
• $100M iFund to help stimulate iPhone software development 
• SDK is free but there is $99 per app publishing charge
• Apps published via the new iPhone App Store
• Developers receive 70% of revenues (no additional fees for marketing, transactions, hosting etc).
• Developers paid monthly
• No charge for Free Apps
• SIM Unlock and VOIP over Cellular not allowed (Wifi is ok though)
• SDK beta is going out to thousands of developers today

I'd guess that right now a whole bunch of PalmOS developers, suffering because that whole ecosystem is suffering, are downloading the SDK. I can't wait to see what they produce after they port their current PalmOS/WM offerings.

What this means for End Users

For those of us already using Installer, which I think is the best homebrew management app I've ever seen and a great model for other lesser platforms (*cough* Palm and RIM *cough*), it means a new separate source for iPhone apps that are perhaps better quality and almost certainly less buggy than existing demos and in nearly all cases bound to be more fully featured and powerful because of the official access to Xcode. Lets face it, many of the iPhone apps to be found on Installer are fun for 5 minutes and cool simply because they are native apps running on an iPhone.

For the less courageous end-user, which I assume 99% of us are, it means at last official access to iPhone apps provided using a trusted method that is well organised, funded and 'out of the closet' so to speak. It means the iPhone can accomplish even more than it does already to make your lives easier. Why? If you think of a feature or app you think it could really do with, someone else is bound to have thought the same thing, one of those people will be a coder with $99 to spare and some time in the evenings.

Here's a list of simple things I want:

• Global search - there's a search app on Installer which is great but I want it to do more and offer previews
• Cut and Paste - everyone I know wants this feature
• Screenshot tool - the Installer app is broken for 1.1.3+
• Outlook Notes synchonisation
• A non-iTunes only media player (Core is working on one)
• Games

Final Thought

Whilst several applications were demoed I've not covered them here because you can't see them suffice it to say the ball is already rolling. Looking back on the raft of changes and announcements it's hard to find fault in what Apple have put together for enterprise, developers and end users. The development ones are particularly exciting for me as I believe a platform's success is partly measured by the size, dedication, resourcefulness, creativity and support its community generates. Something I believe has been sorely lacking of late on other platforms. On the enterprise side Apple is clearly keen to remove any barriers to entry for the iPhone and in fact go one further than other platforms in placating IT managers (already under siege by the grass roots momentum the iPhone has) and judging by comments on the net they have done just that.

I'm serious about cut and paste.

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