Because they've already built the functionality into the phone that Apple
is so desperately trying to catch up to?  Because the applications that
Apple will tout as cutting edge are already common fare for the rest of the
industry?  Because most users don't need or demand the type of childish toy
applications that will roll out for the iPhone?

I don't know- take your pick.

4phun <vic.healey@gmail.com> wrote in news:5f590af6-5bc2-4f5e-bacc-
cec4ecca0419@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

Why pay for something the Linux hackers will do just for the phun of it?

http://garage.maemo.org/
Have a look for yourself.

Well, the skeptic in me says that this tells us that there will likely be a
significant "barrier to entry" to get app approval and placement in the
iTunes store.  So non-programmers with money are hoping to milk the iPhone
gold rush by buying equity in the small software houses than might need
help ponying up the cash to get certified/listed in return for a cut of all
future profits (at least those profits left after they "render unto Apple
what is Apple's.")

Because with a free SDK, and no seal-of-approval or commission-based
distribution system to share profits with, developers don't have to be loan-
sharked to afford to develop.  And they get to keep all of their earnings
or can negotiate with competitive distributors (Handango, Pocket Gear, etc.)
in a free-market.