As rumored and confirmed a few days ago, the new software unveiled by Apple on March 17 included the long-anticipated copy-paste feature. With the new iPhone OS 3.0, iPhone users will be able to cut, copy and paste text and pictures. 

 

That was the big good news for iPhone users. However, the biggest news on March 17 was the fact that Apple enhanced its support for the App Store’s vast network of applications developers. This will include options such as support for subscription models and automatic alerts. The last option was applauded by analysts present at the auditorium at Apple's Cupertino (Calif.) campus, where the company unveiled its new features. 

 

The other players in the smartphone market have been playing catch up with Apple. They only managed to narrow the gap, but Apple still leads the pack. However, with this move, the software company widened the gap again. The ultimate iPhone OS will enable developers to make applications that provide automatic alerts and also to offer subscriptions and sell content within the apps. 

 

The applications market has grown rapidly since Apple joined the show. With the new options designed to make it easier for developers to create new applications, Apple strengthened its app platform as the No.1 pick of developers and consequently, of users. 

 

"Two years on they still have the cool phone and business model that everybody's talking about and trying to emulate," said CCS Insight analyst John Jackson, according to Reuters. Jackson added that the new options for developers launched by Apple represent a few more steps “ahead of the pack.”

 

With the addition of the copy-paste feature, already available on the RIM BalckBerry and the Palm Treo, the iPhone will certainly remain on top of the game as far as users are concerned as well. Apple also vowed that the new OS 3.0 will include the multimedia messaging feature which will enable the handset’s users to send photos. 

 

Another new and interesting element from Apple is “spotlight,” a long-awaited universal search feature which users can make user of to find key apps on their phone. 

 

The app market is growing rapidly. Apple said the number of apps purchased by iPhone users already surpassed the 800 million milestone. The company also announced it plans to sell the iPhone in new countries, increasing the number of iPhone countries from 62 to 77.  

 

Will Apple laugh in the face of the economic recession and launch a new iPhone this summer? 

 

The company declined to comment on that subject yesterday, but if they don’t have what it takes to do that, nobody has.