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"Reliable sources"have told Electronista that "rough versions" of the tools have been distributed.

The SDK is said to provide a bridge between the developer and the iPhone's OS X operating system, allowing Apple to maintain a buffer between the third party software and the OS. This chimes with Apple chief executive Steve Jobs' remark that that SDK must provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protecting iPhone and iPod users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks and the like.

"These

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details are unavailable, though the features are broad enough that at least one major social networking site is reportedly interested what the native platform can offer versus existing web code," it says.

Precisely which companies have received the kit is not known, but the report says that it will enable them to have applications ready before the general release of the SDK in February.

Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of Worldwide iPod Product Marketing, told Fortune that security concerns are the main reason that most developers have to wait.

"I think the software development kit (SDK) that's going to be available for the iPhone is very interesting, because we think that with the revolutionary multi-touch interface and the phenomenal product that the iPhone is, and certainly having OS X underneath it, that it's going to be an unbelievable platform for developers,"he said in an interview.

"Of course what we want to make sure we've done is keep the phone safe and reliable, and that's why it's taken us a little while to get this SDK out. Especially now that we'll have a real SDK which means legitimate developers are going to come into the space."