An official Apple software development kit (SDK) intended for third-party software developers on the iPhone was confirmed when Apple CEO Steve Jobs' latest blog entry at Apple's site said they planned to have the SDK in developers' hands by February 2008. Jobs said it would take at least that long to strike a compromise between security and freedom. Later, it was revealed that the SDK would permit development for the iPod Touch, too.

Now these are things that other companies have had to face with their own growing homebrew communities, and Apple will be no exception to the rule. Jobs continued:

This is no easy task. Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phonesÂ?this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target.

Jobs iterated that there will be some form of control that will be implemented, but there will be enough freedom to expand the breadth of applications possible on the iPhone. But that said, some restrictions may arise from striking a balance between protection and open platforms. Apple's wonder guy said, "While [control] makes such a phone less than 'totally open,' we believe it is a step in the right direction."