Apple sets up iPhone software development center

Applehas finally established an iPhonedevelopment center to spur software developers to create application programs. The center, at the mean time, supports only Web-based applications, but Apple reaffirmed its commitment to provide a native application development environment by February 2008.

The iPhone Dev Center guides developers through the intricacies of Web 2.0application development for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch. Videos guide developers through basic design and interfaceissues, then progress to content management, compatibility issues and optimization strategies. Code libraries and example applications are also provided.

Developers have already been creating Web applications for the iPhone and iPod using Apple's existing WebKit that offers access to the underlying software engine at the core of the Safari Web browser. So far, more than 268 Web-based applications have been developed by software engineers using standards like Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript + XML).

Apple said it is also validating applications for developers on the development center by allowing them to upload their program to Apple for testing. Hackers have already posted unauthorized attempts to force open Apple's software for native application development and to use the iPhone with carriers other than AT&T. The company said it has begun disabling the hacks with software updates.

Apple has sold about 1.5 million iPhones and Touch versions of the iPod. It estimates that about a quarter-million have been hacked.