Apple opens iPhone software

By Kevin Allison
APPLE moved yesterday to placate restless software developers by announcing plans to allow software makers to create programs for its iPhone mobile handset.

The announcement marks a change of tack for Apple, which has long resisted opening its products to outsiders in favour of closed systems in which it controls the features loaded on its hardware.

It is likely to spark a flurry of software development as programmers rush to build applications that take advantage of the iPhone's touch-screen interface and its ability to make calls, browse the internet, and store photos and music.

"You're going to get a lot more applications than you would if you have a closed environment," said Van Baker, an Apple analyst at market research group Gartner.

Such applications could include contact management and other business software - a lack of which has limited the iPhone's appeal to corporate customers, who are among the biggest buyers of smartphone handsets.

In a statement on Apple's website, company co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs said it planned to provide a development toolkit to outside programmers by February.

"We are excited about creating a vibrant third-party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of applications for users," Mr Jobs said.

Apple has sold more than 1 million iPhones since the handset was launched in June.
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