MARCH 7, 2008 • Public and developer response to the iPhone is so large that reports surfaced of a burgeoning backlog in processing developer contracts at Apple Inc. Approvals that once took several days are now taking several months, according to AppleInsider. The delays affect new and renewal applications by developers.
Impact: Given the economic distemper impacting many products today, Apple is in the enviable position of underestimating the flood of support for its iPhone platform. While these developers are somewhat captive for the moment with no competing mobile device in the iPhone’s league, not investing in resources to cut that backlog could cut the system’s momentum, allowing for a competitor to gain a foothold.