June launch for iPhone 2.0 update

Permalink: June launch for iPhone 2.0 update
by Jan Harris

Apple is releasing a major update to its iPhone software in June. The company is adding new features for businesses and broad support for third-party software.

The upgrade will include a software development kit, enabling third-party developers to develop games, utilities, and other applications for the phone.

A lack of networking and security tools on the device has been considered a disadvantage for business users.

The phone also doesn’t currently support the Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync protocol that keeps handsets connected to the central server.

Apple has responding to these criticisms by building Exchange ActiveSync directly into the phone, and re-designing the device’s native e-mail and calendar applications. The upgrade also adds Cisco IPsec VPN support.

The update will be available for free to all owners of the iPhone and iPod Touch.

Apple expects to sell 10 million iPhones by the end of the year, giving the device roughly 1 percent of the worldwide cell phone market.