iPhone developer waiting list could be six months long

Silicon Alley Insider reported yesterday that the waiting list to be accepted into the iPhone developer program is six months long.

However, insiders say that the App Store approval process is "surprisingly" efficient, and that the beta period may be drawing to a close. Apple could throw the doors wide open when the beta period ends July 11, meaning no waiting list at all.

Apple has been allowing a small fraction of applicants into the program: At WWDC, The Steve himself said that 4,000 developers have been allowed into the program out of about 25,000 applications. As of the keynote, 250,000 had downloaded the SDK.

After being accepted to the program and submitting your app, there is another waiting period while Apple reviews it, and determines whether or not it's suitable for the App Store. How long that takes is up for speculation, but the time between June 26 and July 11 is about two business weeks.

So, how's mid-January 2009 looking for you? At least we'll have new Battlestar Galactica episodes by then.