iPhone SDK Rules Block Skype, Firefox, Java ...

An anonymous reader writes "Apple's iPhone software development kit is already drawing complaints due to the strict terms of service. Voice over IP apps like Skype that attempt to use the cellular data connection will be blocked. Competing web browsers Firefox and Opera are forbidden. Even Sun is now backpedaling on its recent announcement of a java port, noting that there are some legal issues. Critics are already comparing Apple's methods to Comcast's anti-net neutrality filtering, and Microsoft's Netscape-killing antitrust tactics. Could Apple face government regulators?"

Comments

Re:It is their phone

[drkich]

Why can't Microsoft dictate what is run under their operating system? Why can't Dell dictate that you can only run Windows on their hardware? It is *theirs* right? And of course no one forced me to buy their hardware or operating system did they?

Of course this is nonsense and should not be tolerated. So why is Apple being given a pass on this by so many people. We should be upset that they are going to make quite a bit of money on these apps (30%) from their App Store. So if they are going to be making this money, why do you think they don't want you to have an interpreted language installed? I could then conceivably bypass their App Store and they would lose money.