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Apple's third-party SKD won't be available until February, and given the history of iPhone apps, how can that comment even be called a "barb"? According to this story, "Tech-savvy users have been able to customize their phones with new software, at least until Apple put the kibosh on this activity with an iPhone update in September that erased all unauthorized applications from the device. The company did, however, post a list of approved Web-based applications for the iPhone on its Web site last week to discourage users from hacking into the device to add new applications."

So compare erasing apps on someone's phone to the "Open Handset Alliance, a multinational group with 34 members dedicated to promoting Android."