So, let’s review.
- As expected, Apple (AAPL) at an event at its headquarters in Cupertino today announced an SDK to allow developers to create applications for the iPhone. All apps will be distributed either through iTunes, or via the new App Store.
- All iPhones will include Microsoft Exchange Support.
- Kleiner Perkins is launching a $100 million iFund for the development of iPhone applications.
- Apple will do a 70/30 revenue split for apps sold through the App Store.
- A new version of the iPhone software is coming in June. It will be free for iPhone users, but there will be a modest charge - not announced yet - for iPod Touch.
- Some things not announced: Lotus Notes support. Specific support for most enterprise applications; although there was a brief demo from Salesforce.com (CRM). No demos from Oracle (ORCL) or SAP (SAP). Also, not really a surprise, but there was no discussion of new iPhone models, or new carrier partners.
The question is - and I do not know the answer - did Apple provide enough to trigger corporate IT department to allow people to use iPhones on their networks? That’s not clear. Another question: will IT departments be willing to support a heterogeneous smartphone environment, with support for both Blackberries and iPhones. Note in particular that this is not like simply choosing a Mac over a Dell PC; there are different infrastructure requirements here. Apple says their way is simpler; but that does not necessarily means corporate users are going to want two parallel methods of shipping email to their employees’ phones.
A quick read on the Street view: Apple shares are down $1.10, or 0.9%, to $123.39. Research In Motion (RIMM) is down $3.31, or 3.3%, at $98.42; Nokia (NOK) is down 92 cents, or 2.7%, at $33.89; Palm (PALM) is down 29 cents, or 4.7%, at $5.95.
