As expected, Apple announced the iPhone SDK yesterday.  And really, lots of good news.

The iPhone SDK is important, because it opens up the device to third party applications.  Just like a PC would be boring if it only worked with factory-installed apps, the iPhone is boring because aside from stocks, weather, calendaring and mail apps, there’s not so much there.

With the SDK, we can look forward to hundreds if not thousands of apps.  Games, productivity apps, utilities…everything.  And these apps will be able to take advantage of the iPhones many capabilities, like WiFi, for example.

But of course, Apple has imposed a host of restrictions on the SDK that will prevent the iPhone from being fully open.  For one, the only way you’ll be able to distribute iPhone apps is through Apple.  And it will cost you $99.  I don’t think this is as much of a cash making move for Apple as it is a way to maintain control of the apps that are available for the device.  The theory is, it seems, that people won’t pay $99 to distribute a crap app.

Also, apps can’t play together.  They will be isolated and unable to share data with each other.  Not a huge deal, in fact it will probably stop some malicious stuff from happening, but not great in terms of openness.

Another limitation is that third party apps won’t be able to run in the background.  This is probably a restriction aimed to save resources, more than anything…but having to keep each app open in order to use it is limiting.

To drive development of iPhone apps, Apple and Kleiner Perkins announced a $100 million fund for new developers.  Cool, sure…but the 9 figs isn’t needed to drive development.  It’s more of a move, in my opinion, for the VC firm to secure lots of stock in startups.

One more thing, the iPhone will now support push email from Microsoft Exchange - the leading corporate email platform.  This is a pretty good move in my opinion that positions the iPhone squarely against the Blackberry.  To this point, RIM, the maker of the Blackberry has been able to criticize the device’s lack of push email, and the quirky on-screen keyboard.  After June, when the new software is release, the only gripe will be the keypad.

All in all, this is great news…and I’m excited.  Finally Apple is loosening its grip on its devices…if only partially.  In fact, the first game for the iPhone has already been announced…EA’s Spore, a heavily hyped game by Will Wright, the creator of Sim City.

All of you iPhone users, get ready.

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