Marketed by Apple, iPhones are multimedia smart phones with a touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard, a 2.0 megapixel camera, built-in iPod capabilities, web browsing, Email, and impressive applications.

iPhone applications, or iPhone Apps, are third party programs an iPhone user can add to their phone that function as programs and enhance the phone's capabilities. Since the iPhone has its own operating system like a computer, the user can add programs to the phone that they find interesting or useful, like gas price, checkbook, game, and cook book applications. There are also thousands of web apps that combine the power of the Internet with the easy technology of and implementation of a touch screen. iPhone apps are found on the home screen of the phone and usually run one at a time. Applications can run anywhere between $0.99 and $40.00, but there are also many applications that are free.

The process of creating an iPhone app starts with the development and ends with the distribution, or acceptance into the Apple App Store. Directly on the Apple website, developers have access to helpful information on how to create their own iPhone apps. The developer first has to download the SDK program, the read-me file, and the agreement file. From there, the iPhone application developer can watch how-to movies provided by Apple, like development tools overview movies and user interface design movies. After watching the Getting Started Videos, the developer can read Getting Started Documents on things from how to create an application to frequently asked questions associated with application development. The website also offers help on programming, a reference library, and sample codes to make the creating process easier. In order to become an iPhone developer, one has to sign up on the website. The process of creating an iPhone application begins with an idea, a background of knowledge, and code. From there, it is tested and sent to Apple to be approved or denied. For individuals or small groups of developers looking to create iPhone apps, there is a $99 Standard Program. For companies of more than 500 people, there is an Enterprise Program which costs $299.

iPhone applications have been developed and downloaded since their creation in 2007. On the weekend of July 10, 2008, when iTunes began distributing Applications for iPhones and iPods, ten million Applications were downloaded alone. Today, there are over 23,000 Applications to choose from. These applications have been downloaded more than 300 million times all over the globe.

iPhone applications allow you to get the most out of your phone. With the advent of apps, your phone is now capable of a whole lot more functions compared to the way it came from the factory. With so many iPhone apps to choose from and so many more being developed every day, it is no wonder iPhone applications have seen such a huge success.