Apple Reports 100,000 Downloads of iPhone SDK
"Developer reaction to the iPhone SDK has been incredible with more than 100,000 downloads in the first four days," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement. "Also, over one million people have watched the launch video on Apple.com, further demonstrating the incredible interest developers have in creating applications for the iPhone."
Apple announced the launch of its SDK and of iPhone 2.0 software that will bring Microsoft Exchange email compatibility to the smartphone at an event at its Cupertino, Calif., campus last week.
Apple also announced the launch of a $100 million "iFund" from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Claufield and Beyers. According to one published report, business plan submissions to the firm greatly exceeded expectations in the days following the announcement.
Developers will be able to distribute their iPhone software through Apple's App Store. The company will keep 30 percent of revenue from iPhone applications distributed through the store but will not charge developers any sales, marketing or credit card transaction fees, the company said. Developers can join Apple's program for $99.
Apple issued a press release on Wednesday quoting several developers who have already tested the platform from companies including Intuit and NetSuite.
"The iPhone SDK gives us the tools we need to create powerful iPhone applications and is an important part of our overall mobile strategy," said Rick Jensen, senior vice president, Small Business Group at Intuit, said in the statement. "We're excited that the iPhone expands the ways our customers can solve key financial tasks wherever they might be."
"Apple's tools have provided our development team the flexibility to make the SuitePhone application richer and deeper," said Luke Braud, vice president, Software Development, NetSuite, in the statement. "NetSuite is excited at the opportunity to give every iPhone customer access to their critical business data anytime, anywhere."