Apple Courts iPhone Developers

Apple is opening up the iPhone to outside programmers. The company said yesterday it would release a $99 software development kit, and the venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins has committed $100 million to invest in developers' work, reports the New York Times. iPhones so far have been limited—at least officially—to Apple’s included programs. But new applications will be tightly controlled by Apple.

Independent software developers’ programs will be available only through a new “Apps Store” on iPhones, and Apple will take a 30% cut of sales. This may prove unpopular with some programmers, but the company says this control will let it filter out inappropriate or insecure applications. Apple also said the iPhone will now work with Microsoft Exchange, opening the way to greater business adoption. (More Apple stories.)