iPhone Enterprise Beta Program lets suits try 2.0 firmware early

Here's the good news: "select" registered Apple developers won't be the only ones with access to iPhone 2.0 beta software before the official June launch. The bad news? It still probably won't be you. Apple is courting enterprise IT departments to test out the 2.0 beta in a new "iPhone Enterprise Beta Program," but there are quite a few restrictions and caveats, with an extensive application form and no guarantee of success. If you get into the program, you'll get to test out all those new enterprise features announced today, and provide Apple with feedback on how awesome everything is.

[matt @ Mar 6th 2008 4:23PM]

long live windows mobile!

[phanbouy @ Mar 6th 2008 6:04PM]

long die fanboys of all stripes

[mushrooshi @ Mar 6th 2008 6:30PM]

long die 90's haircuts.

[Digg @ Mar 6th 2008 4:26PM]

Dugg!
http://digg.com/apple/iPhone_Enterprise_Beta_lets_suits_try_2_0_firmware_early

[imacmatt09 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:30PM]

Do us a favor and Digg a hole and bury yourself in it.

[Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:32PM]

I hate you

[Vanillacide @ Mar 6th 2008 5:09PM]

Dig Dug was a great game by Namco from 1982.

I can't download the SDK, server overload.

Also wondering what the criteria for being a v2.0 firmware corporation is? e.g. How many people in organization, big revenues, lots of iPhone users, etc.

[imacmatt09 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:29PM]

I can't even download the SDK. Apple's server died.

[Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:31PM]

I bet this firmware will get leaked by one of them.

[Alex @ Mar 6th 2008 4:32PM]

Yep, leak in a little over a month or so.

[SimonRichards @ Mar 6th 2008 11:04PM]

torrentzzz ftw

[stankychicken @ Mar 6th 2008 4:31PM]

Omg, can we please see a post that has the date when engadget and apple are going to get married and have the most overhyped babies in the world.

[Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:32PM]

I hate you.

[Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Mar 6th 2008 4:33PM]

I really hate the comment system:(

[PopsG @ Mar 6th 2008 4:45PM]

So much hate!

[mingistech @ Mar 6th 2008 4:37PM]

don't you see the pattern.... the more you b!tches whine.. the more they post apple stories.

so... STFU. :)

[HOOPER @ Mar 6th 2008 4:39PM]

Okay guys, I am a Mac user, own an iPod touch, and have never griped about all your Apple coverage thus far, but this is a bit much. I'm excited for the SDK too, but seriously.

Fanboys, I know I don't have to read all the articles. Just voicing my opinion.

[Soulquarian @ Mar 6th 2008 4:48PM]

It really isn't...

I work for AT&T, and I constantly get calls from our business contacts who wish to make the iPhone their phone of choice. The announcement of the SDK and Enterprise support is HUGE. Sure, this may not apply to the average joe, but for me, and many others in corporate America, this is a game changer.

It's all about context. Based on this info alone, I'll have quite a few sales. And like you said, you can always scroll past the info you don't want to read. I do it all the time whenever I see "Nintendo Wii Sold _____ over the weekend!"

[HOOPER @ Mar 6th 2008 4:51PM]

I guess you're right. I guess it's just not AS big a deal for me right now...at least not until they release Spore :p

[John P @ Mar 6th 2008 4:51PM]

Thank you for saying that. Im not a Mac user, but I believe tech news from any company is news and deserves its place. However, I hate going to this site on a big apple day. The ratio of real news to apple "news" is something like 1:10. Did we really need 5 different posts about the SDK? You couldnt put them all into one post? You did that with Android, I recall. Engadget, its time to get your act together.

[HOOPER @ Mar 6th 2008 4:54PM]

I think this is #12 today...

[Jubei @ Mar 6th 2008 4:50PM]

Patience is a virtue. So many of you failed to see that when iPhone was released in June. Rather than just throwing in an ad hoc feature here and there and hoping the slapped on addition to the existing underlying OS will just cripple the performance just a tad so. Apple started from the ground up. Meticulously planned and avoiding shortcuts for the OS/Hardware/Software. It's easy to understand why the iPhone is easily 3-5 years ahead of its competition. It's just going to get better and better this summer.

[Andrew @ Mar 6th 2008 5:01PM]

Hmm... giving it a try but I doubt they'll pick us due to our small size. We really are an IT support company though, so even though we are small, I can think of several clients who would be set up on Exchange with their iPhone the second it's out, so I'd love to do some testing on it internally first.

[MikeCP @ Mar 6th 2008 5:06PM]

Anyone up for setting up a faux IT company to get accepted? I call COO.

[LordFarkward @ Mar 6th 2008 9:34PM]

DAMMIT i wonna be COO! ok fine i'll be the tea lady. but can i please be the next COO if you decide to leave (or die)? oh and one last requirment is that i'm the only one that can bring you tea, deal?

[Patriks7 @ Mar 7th 2008 1:06AM]

why didnt Jobs say "how about them apples" after they said it wont be available till June? :( he couldve had a cool line like Schwarzeneger \o/
And back on topic, yah engadget i love this site, i am a mac fanboy (i even was one before i had a mac.. go figure xD) but this really is too much.. i mean a person cant even read that properly! going from post to post, you even forget what was in the first one
so please click the button that says "Apple Fanboyism" and try keeping it to 2 apple posts a day

[pallavnarang @ Mar 7th 2008 5:11AM]

If you dont find it awesome, jobso will take your phone back and wont even refund the money...user error!
( waits for fanboy attack)

[Prince Valium @ Mar 7th 2008 9:49AM]

Ok, nice one, with all the new features, but the remote-wipe thing...? Guess they'll remote 'brick' all jailbreaked users - am i right?

[chris @ Mar 7th 2008 12:25PM]

i wonder how long till its leaked and jailbroken :)

[chris @ Mar 7th 2008 12:27PM]

its via exchange, for corporations to use when a phone is lost or stolen so sensitive data doesnt leak out like company emails etc.

[Datapoohbah @ May 1st 2008 3:06PM]

I've spent a good week using (or trying too) Beta 3/4 and have written about hit here:

http://www.datapoohbah.com/tech/2008/04/28/enterprise-iphone-a-week-with-20-beta/