Apple today announced that more than 500 native applications will be available on the iPhone’s App Store when Apple’s iPhone 3G goes on sale tomorrow. Apple’s iPhone provides a breakthrough mobile platform for developers, who have created an incredible array of innovative applications such as stunning action games, advanced medical applications and robust productivity tools for the enterprise. These apps will be available on Apple’s revolutionary new App Store, enabling customers to wirelessly download them directly onto their iPhones and start using them immediately. More than 125 applications are being offered to iPhone customers for free.
The new iPhone 3G combines all the revolutionary features of iPhone with 3G networking that is twice as fast*, built-in GPS for expanded location-based mobile services, and iPhone 2.0 software which includes support for Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync and runs hundreds of third party applications available through the new App Store which is a built-in application on every iPhone running iPhone 2.0 software.
“iPhone represents a new software platform for developers, combining the most advanced mobile operating system, sophisticated developer tools and a breakthrough way for developers to wirelessly sell and distribute their applications right onto every iPhone,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “The reaction from developers has been very, very positive and we’re opening the App Store with over 500 native iPhone applications available for immediate purchase and download.”
Many of these amazing new applications also take advantage of iPhone’s large display, Multi-Touch™ user interface, fast hardware-accelerated 3D graphics, built-in accelerometer and location-based technology to bring far more powerful applications to the mobile arena than ever before.
The App Store on iPhone works over cellular networks and Wi-Fi, which means it is accessible from just about anywhere, so users can purchase and download applications wirelessly and start using them instantly. Applications are free or charged to the user’s iTunes account and the App Store notifies the user when updates are available for their apps. The App Store is also available in iTunes running on a Mac or PC, which syncs applications to the iPhone or iPod® touch using a USB cable.
The App Store will offer over 500 native applications from hundreds of companies around the world in a variety of categories including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.
“iPhone enables The Associated Press to deliver news in a way that simply wasn’t possible before,” said Benjamin Mosse, director of Mobile Products, The Associated Press, in the press release. “Taking advantage of iPhone’s revolutionary location-based services, our Mobile News network can capture and store local news stories that can be read by users even when they’re offline and our award winning photography and AP video are displayed in stunning clarity on its high resolution screen.”
“iPhone is changing the entire mobile industry and has quickly become the number one mobile device for accessing eBay,” said Ken G. Sun, group product manager, eBay Mobile, in the press release. “Users can shop, track bids and get great deals from the largest online marketplace in the world directly from their iPhone. We couldn’t deliver such a complete and easy-to-use eBay experience on any other mobile device and iPhone users can download it free from the new App Store.”
“iPhone is one of the most popular ways for people to enjoy Facebook on-the-go and we’re excited to deliver a great native application via the App Store,” said Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, in the press release. “Facebook is even cooler on the iPhone 3G, with the ability to discover friends nearby, or to effortlessly take pictures and upload them instantly to their Facebook account.”
“The global MySpace community will love MySpace Mobile on iPhone,” said Chris DeWolfe, CEO and Co-Founder of MySpace, in the press release. “With rich features such as seamless photo uploading from iPhone to your MySpace profile, the MySpace Mobile application is gorgeous and as intuitive as possible—empowering the community with complete control over their global MySpace network right from the palm of their hand.”
“Apple’s iPhone and iPod touch open up the world of games to an entirely new audience,” said David Cobb, vice president of Product Development, Sega, in the press release. “The touch and tilt controls are natural and easy to learn, making gaming even more inviting, creative and rewarding. Super Monkey Ball takes advantage of these defining aspects and offers consumers an extremely accessible, imaginative and fun game experience. Whether an iPhone owner is new to games, or has been a fan for years, they will be intrigued and engaged by Super Monkey Ball and this progressive way to interact with entertainment.”
“With an iPhone in your pocket, you’ll never roam alone,” said Jeffrey Glueck, CMO of Travelocity, in the press release. “From finding the nearest hotel with just a few taps to checking your flight status in a snap, the magic of iPhone lets us put tools that no one has ever seen before in the hands of travelers.”
In addition to the App Store, the iPhone 2.0 software update includes enterprise support, contact search, complete iWork and MS Office document viewing support, the ability to delete or move emails in bulk, saving images from emails, a scientific calculator, parental controls and support for 16 additional languages.
iPhone 3G will be available in the US on July 11 for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 8GB model and $299 (US) for the 16GB model in both Apple and AT&T’s retail stores and requires a new two-year contract with AT&T for qualifying customers**. The App Store will be available beginning today via iTunes 7.7 and part of the free iPhone 2.0 software update for all iPhone customers on July 11. iPhone 2.0 is also available for iPod touch users for $9.95. iPhone 3G will be available in 21 countries— Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US—on July 11. iPhone 3G will go on sale in France on July 17. For further information about iPhone 3G pricing and availability in the US and internationally, visit www.apple.com/iphone.
*Comparisons between iPhone 3G (8GB) and 1st generation iPhone (8GB) running on EDGE. Actual speeds vary by site conditions.
**Requires new two-year AT&T rate plan, sold separately to qualified customers.
I’m too lazy to look it up, but it appears New Zealand will be the first country with sales-is that correct?
Out of curiosity, does anyone know how many apps are available for Windows Mobile, Blackberry, Palm and Symbian?
boom…game over…world domination is at hand.
Here is my prediction: There will be more apps for the iPhone than RIM developpers at the October conference. In fact, I’m wrong, there will be more apps by July 11th than RIM developpers at the October conference.
iPhone and apps tsunami, here you come.
I was not going to get the 3G iPhone but now with all these new apps, my old 4GB iPhone is going to fill up quickly. Hun Where’s my amex platinum card?
@Opportun, “‘m wrong, there will be more apps by July 11th than RIM developpers at the October conference.”
Yeah, and among those ‘developpers’ there will be some ‘interloppers’ also. All that lopping going on.
already disassembly pics
http://live.ifixit.com/Guide/First-Look/iPhone3G
This really is huge, huge, huge. Apple has a real shot of blowing several major players out of the water at once:
Palm (not too hard since they’re walking dead already)
RIM (Sure, they will keep their current customers—15 million—but Apple’s tsunami of 40 million customers will engulf them
Sony/Nintendo (PSP & DS could look very stale in just a couple of months)
Microsoft (Poor Windows Mobile, we never knew ye—thank God!)
Nokia—What was that thing called? Symbiotic, Samoan, Samurai?
Android—Ah yes, the raging success of Linux on the desktop bought to the cell phone where you not only have to deal with usability issues but also with power, screen, memory & battery limitations.
Woohoo!
I recently did some touring in Europe. I can see tour guides for every city, natural phenomena and museum/zoo/exhibit on the face of the earth. All at $2 or less a pop.
You know when I see what Apple and a swathe of loyal developers have accomplished with this launch it reminds me of what makes me laugh about the totally illogical attitude of Apple nay-sayers!
For years now I hear people talking about how Apple should license OS X to other manufacturers or how they should standardise on an OS that others use and these plebs don’t realise it’s all about file formats and document standards. People can get away with using pretty much any OS they choose nowadays as long as it supports the standards.
So as Apple use their own (far superior to anything else) OS throughout their array of platforms and they continue to have full control over both the hardware and software how can they be beaten on style, quality and features.
Form, function, Apple’s products have both in spades.
And the onset of OS X touch 2.0 just widens the gap between the usability of Apple’s mobile tech and the lame offerings of others. Especially Microsoft!
I found the answer-New Zealand has been selling the 3G iPhone for the past 2 1/2 hours.
Well, it’s nice to see Apple on it’s game…. I love the simple interface and elegant style of OS X, and having it’s power and interface on an iPhone is one for the history books, I’m certain.
The human interface model Apple employs has always been at the forefront of it’s priorities. Make it easy and stable, add some elegance, style, and folks will use it… a simple mantra and premise, and it seems that this is still the case! Let’s all hope Apple continues chanting, and En-chanting as well Please note without these priorities, Apple is just a computer maker. Just like Microsoft, Dell, RIM, etc.
Today and tomorrow are important days in history. Celebrate!
I soo want to get my hands on an iPhone!! Unfortunately, the iphone 16 GB over here costs almost $1000… 🙁 And only 250 available on launch…
Guess I’ll have to wait (and save) a bit longer.
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Wrote a story about my iPhone ordeal at