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Apple has announced the release of the iPhone 2.0 beta, which includes the iPhone SDK and enterprise features:

• Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync to provide secure, over-the-air push email, contacts and calendars as well as remote wipe
• Cisco IPsec VPN for encrypted access to private corporate networks.

iPhone apps will be delivered via the App Store (iTunes):

• Exclusive delivery method
• Developer gets 70 percent, Apple gets 30 percent of sale price
• No credit card fees, no hosting fees, no marketing fees
• Paid monthly
• No charge for free apps.

The iPhone SDK beta—full release in June—provides developers with APIs and tools to create applications. Starting today, anyone can download the beta iPhone SDK for free and run the iPhone Simulator on their Mac.

Available to a limited number of developers during the beta phase, the iPhone Developer Program costs $99 per year and gives members an iPhone SDK and development tools; access to pre-release iPhone software; technical support; the ability to get code onto iPhones for testing; and distribution of applications via the new App Store. The Enterprise Program costs $299 per year.

Editor's note: Steve's got the 70 / 30 revenue distribution model tattooed on his brain.

More or less than you were expecting?

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