Unauthorized Store to Offer Banned iPhone Applications

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 6, 2009 - 12:05pm.

New York - An independent programmer plans to soon launch an online store that will sell applications that run on Apple (NASD: AAPL) iPhones that have been "jailbroken" so that they can run any application, including those not approved by Apple, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The Cydia Store would offer applications that Apple has not endorsed for the iPhone, including ones that turn the device into a camcorder, and a wireless modem for laptop computers.

Apple's own App Store for the iPhone and iPod touch has been a big hit, currently stocking more than 15,000 applications for the devices and spawning similar software marketplace launches for Google's Android platform, and the BlackBerry.

Developed by Jay "Saurik" Freeman, the Cydia open-source distribution system for the iPhone has over 350,000 users.

Apple did not comment for stories on the Cydia Store, but the Journal noted that the company filed a statement with the U.S. Copyright Office last month arguing that modifying iPhone software runs afoul of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10190573-94.html

http://www.saurik.com/id/1