iPhone development kit: open or closed?

There’s no question that the iPhone is not only a phone, but it’s also a mobile platform… that’s currently closed, at least when it comes to “native” applications (vs. web-based ones). Speculation is mounting that Apple will launch the iPhone software development kit (SDK) in 2008 at MacWorld. At least, AT&T isn’t a roadblock: “It’s up to Apple to decide whether third-party applications will go on the iPhone” (AT&T spokesman Michael Coe).

Apple could either pick and choose who gets the tools, or they could let everyone develop applications and approves each application, just like Sony or Microsoft do with their game consoles. The latter seems to be like a more likely choice for Apple, even if having a completely open platform would be “better”.