Apple reveals iPhone 3.0: lots for game developers to cheer

At a packed press conference today, Apple revealed its new OS, due out in the summer. Alongside some basic additions (cut and paste, search), there are a bunch of key features likely to be of substantial interest to game developers:

• Microtransactions, allowing downloadable content within an App (I argued how necessary this was on PocketGamer.biz earlier in the month)
• Auto-discovery, allowing multiplayer games on nearby iPhones via Bluetooth
• Voice chat in games

There were some useful statistics too:

• Over 800 million downloads
• Over 25,000 apps
• 98% of apps are approved within 7 days
• 96% of apps were approved in February

And EA was there, announcing that the Sims 3 is coming to iPhone and iPod Touch, with in-app microtransactions offering additional content for $0.99. (Thanks to AppGamer for the lead).

Thanks to the FT’s Chris Nuttall and others for their contributions to the Twitterstream.