Apple Targeting Business World for the iPhone

The New York Times is running a couple of stories about the future of the iPhone in the business world and Apple's plan to maintain control of application development. Now that the iPhone SDK has been released and the "App store" has been demonstrated, Steve Jobs is pushing for the adoption of the iPhone as a standard business tool. In addition, a venture capitalist named John Doerr has launched a $100 million "iFund" to spur development of applications for the iPhone. From the NYTimes: "Mr. Jobs was upfront that there are limitations on what applications can do. He talked about bans on pornography and malicious programs. He also said Apple will not allow any application to be installed on the machine other than through the iTunes store. Nor will applications be permitted that enable an end run around Apple's deals with wireless carriers. Many questions remain unanswered. How much streaming video will Apple allow, because the iPhone is such an interesting video device? Mr. Jobs did say that the application development environment will have a lot of capabilities for video playback. Will Apple allow a service like Last.FM to offer streaming music on the iPhone?"

Re:Android

[CrackedButter]

Does this touch screen phone have a shiny Apple on its back though? Until then it isn't an instant replacement is it? :-P

You need pornography on portable devices!

[FuzzyDaddy]

A few years ago, a couple we know was going through infertility treatments. Part of these treatments, of course, required the husband to go in and produce a... well, a sample. He found the porn provided unsatisfactory, so he downloaded a bunch of pictures onto his PDA.

And now Steve Jobs wants to stand in the way of all those infertile couples who want to have children!

Re:Limitations

[noidentity]

This means that there is also only a SINGLE VENDOR from which software can be obtained. Forget about competitive bidding, negotiating the best package price, etc. Forget it. Medium-to-Large companies will NEVER go for this.

You're right, these companies will probably stick with Microsoft.

Re:Porn!

[Andy_R]

It's only porn apps that are banned, the built in iPod video player will happily show fullscreen 480x320 porn just fine, same goes for the photo app, which supports both pinching and expanding with multiple touches!

Re:The tools only run on Mac ?

[Andy_R]

I heard an even worse rumour, that the software you make with it will only run on an Apple phone! Now developers will have to buy TWO Apple machines!

Re:What Apple is doing

[SkyDude]

No, grumpy old farts on slashdot that "just want a phone" don't count.

Hey, us grumpy old farts resent that and we don't want "just a phone". What we want is for you whippersnappers to stay off our lawns!!

Re:Exchange

[mattgoldey]

I work for a company that has no competition and runs with a budget surplus every year. I'm not concerned.

Re:Who is John Doerr?

[kellyb9]

Who is John Doerr?

Doesn't he make tractors?

Re:Lost chance to build up Juggernaut momentum

[rho]

The iphone DOESN'T look look like it will be a future winner.

So, a wildly popular handset doesn't look like a future winner, and a completely productless handset does?

You should go into the venture capital business.

Re:What Apple is doing

[tak amalak]

Wow, no one's ERER made a phone like that! I've hear people describe this phone as 'revolutionary' as if they didn't know what the word even meant.