With a rich set of over 1,000 new APIs, Apple’s new iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta provides developers with an amazing range of technologies to enhance the functionality of iPhone and iPod touch applications. iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta’s new APIs also provide support for applications to communicate with hardware accessories attached to iPhone or iPod touch.

Highlights include:

• In App Purchase: Allow users to purchase content or services from your application using the Store Kit framework. This new framework handles the financial aspects of the transaction, processes payment with the iTunes Store, and provides your application with information about the purchase.

• Peer to Peer Connectivity: Add multi-player capabilities to your games using the peer to peer network connectivity and in game voice communication features of Game Kit. This powerful new framework allows any application, not just games, to communicate between devices using Bluetooth-no pairing required.

• Apple Push Notification service: The Apple Push Notification service provides a way to alert your users of new information, even when your application isn’t running. Send text notifications, trigger audible alerts, or add a numbered badge to your application icon.

• Maps: You can now embed maps within your applications using the new Map Kit framework. Map Kit works with the Google Mobile Maps Service and features panning and zooming, custom annotations, current location and geocoding.

• Accessories: Using the new External Accessory framework, your application can now communicate with “Made for iPod” hardware accessories attached to iPhone or iPod touch through either the 30-pin dock connector or wirelessly using Bluetooth.

• iPod Library Access: Access music, podcasts, or audio books in a user’s iPod library directly from your application using the updated Media Player framework. You can play, repeat and shuffle songs or whole playlists, or create sequences of songs using custom searches.

Apple’s iPhone Developer Program provides a complete and integrated process for developing, debugging, and distributing your free, commercial, or in-house applications for iPhone and iPod touch. When you join the iPhone Developer Program, you also receive access to iPhone SDK for iPhone OS 3.0 beta – so you can prepare your applications for the next generation of iPhone OS.

More info here.