100 million downloads from Apple App Store

Apple says the last two months have seen iPhone and iPod Touch owners downloading more than 100 million applications from its App Store. (The online store opened on 11th July). There are currently over 3,000 applications available to download; more than 90% cost less than $10 and more than 600 are free. [Press release]

Apple reveals iPhone software development kit

Pretty much as expected, Apple has revealed the iPhone SDK: a software package that will enable application developers to create programs for the Apple iPhone. The iPhone developer tools are based on the company's existing 'Cocoa' tools for developing Mac software. Developers can download a free version of the beta iPhone software development kit, although the full version of the kit will not be available until June. In addition, Apple announced a deal with Microsoft that will soon enable iPhones to work with Microsoft's Exchange business email software. It also said business iPhone users will be able to access virtual private networks, which allows companies to give their staff mobile access to internal computer systems. [Sources: Macworld.com, WSJ.com]

Google Gears goes mobile

Google has created a mobile version of Google Gears, which allows customers to use online services when there's no internet connection. The mobile version, which currently only works on Windows Mobile 5 and 6 devices, will let people keep using web services even when there's no mobile coverage. [Google blog]

UK mobile users haven't moved on since 2003

A study by telecom connectivity specialist AppTrigger has shown that 57% of UK mobile phone owners use their phone for the same things they did in 2003 - although 74% believe the services have improved. [Press release]