We had a nagging feeling there would be a catch to Thursday’s SDK announcement, apart from the delay, that is. Well, here it is: if you’re a developer hoping to get your applications released to iPhone users through iTunes, you’re going to have to pony up just under a hundred dollars a year for the privilege. Initially, this might sound a little shocking and disappointing, but a closer analysis reveals this is a great deal after all. As most developers known, the cost of hosting a website with the bandwith required to deliver the applications to thousands of users isn’t cheap. In fact, many developers struggle to pay for their hundred-dollar-plus hosting costs based on donations alone. So, in many ways, this $99 package could be a great deal for developers who want a cheap hosting plan with the widest available audience.
