iPhone 2.0 software update in early July

Today at WWDC Apple announced that their iPhone 2.0 software update will launch in early July. The software update will be free for all iPhone owners and cost $9.99 for iPod Touch owners. The software update will bring several new features including support for Microsoft's Exchange server including push email, contact and calendar synchronization and address book lookup. It will also include support for new iPhone third party applications.

Applications under 10MB can be downloaded via the cellular network, any larger and you have to use Wi-Fi. They have also added support for ad-hoc application distribution, which will allow developers to load an application on up to 100 devices. Apple also indicated that there will be extensive application support for enterprises, including the ability to push applications out to user's iPhone's and lock applications so that they can only be used on certain devices.

Several new third party applications were demonstrated today. These include some applications that were originally demoed in March when the SDK was announced, including Super Monkey Ball, which will be available for $9.99 with 100 different levels. Also demonstrated were applications for accessing Ebay, Typepad, AP news and MLB.com as well as medical applications for students and doctors.

Also addressed were questions about third party applications running in the background. Instead of allowing this Apple has created a notification system that will allow developers to update users without leaving the application running. This is an issue that many developers were concerned about and its good to see Apple address. Whether the solution will work in practice is another question. This functionality won't be available until September.

Photo courtesy of Gizmodo.