Apple announces SDK and Exchange support for iPhone
March 6, 2008 - Apple today announced several new updates for the iPhone (
read review) including support for Micorsoft's Exchange Server (
blog post) and details about the software development kit (SDK) that will allow developers to create native applications for both the iPhone and the iPod Touch (
blog post). Exchange integration and support for the new third party applications will come in a 2.0 update to the iPhone's software in late June. Developers will be able to download a beta version of the SDK today.
Apple had previously announced that they would be making an SDK available in late February, today's announcement came about a week later than that deadline. Until now applications for the iPhone were limited to so-called "web apps", which provided limited functionality and were slowed by user's data connections. As part of today's announcement Apple demonstrated several applications including an instant messaging client and games.
Support for Exchange Servers will allow the iPhone to receive instant "push" email, similar to BlackBerry devices and other smart phones. Users will also be able to synchronize their iPhone's calendar and contacts with an Exchange server and a variety of security enhancement will be available to IT managers including the ability to remotely wipe a phone. Adoption of the iPhone in enterprise environments had been hampered by the lack of such features.
