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CEO Steve Jobs said that the company plans to release an SDK (software development kit) next February, giving its engineers sufficient time to resolve what he said are "two diametrically opposed things" - providing 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.

"Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones - this is simply not true,"he said. "There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target."

Jobs made no reference to the hackers who have already levered their own software onto modified iPhones. Nor did he say that he had changed his mind about third-party development, much as he once changed his mind about the value of video on iPods. Instead his statement was worded to suggest that opening up the iPhone had been Apple's intention all along.

"Let me just say it: We want native third party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers' hands in February. We are excited about creating a vibrant third party developer community around the iPhone and enabling hundreds of new applications for our users. With our revolutionary multi-touch interface, powerful hardware and advanced software architecture, we believe we have created the best mobile platform ever for developers."

The decision to release an SDK

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has received a thumbs up both from hackers who, wrongly, are trying to take the credit and from critics who feel the device is devalued by the lack of software options.

Enterprise Mac blogger Tom Yager said that Apple is absolutely right to have put security first.

"Having an SDK without tight security is as inadvisable as having no SDK," he wrote.

Jobs suggested that Apple would adopt a "sign-in" programme similar to the one Nokia has introduced for its newer smartphone models. This prevents developers from loading apps onto a device until they have an approved digital signature.

Yager said this should work well, just as long as its not seen as another way to make money.

"Requiring signed apps is cool with me as long as phone manufacturers don't turn software registration into a developer tax," he wrote. "Nokia grants free signatures to freeware authors, and developers can self-sign software for testing, but commercial signatures cost money."

Jack Gold, a telecom market analyst, said that Apple was left with no choice but to open up its touchscreen devices.

"They really had no option. At end of day, people want apps on their phone," he said. "Apple cannot possibly build all the applications that people want. By opening up the iPhone, they're going to bring in a whole group of folks that will make this device more relevant to more people."

Wall Street agreed, sending Apple's share price to an all-time high of $173.

Jobs finished by saying that iPhone and iPod touch users will benefit from having had to wait.

"We think a few months of patience now will be rewarded by many years of great third party applications running on safe and reliable iPhones," he said.

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