Apple‘s success with iPhone applications was not preordained, however the company had a huge leg up on the competition. Today, Apple has a hit device, mature software platform and the one of the biggest online stores on the planet and the future is up to you.

A year ago, Apple CEO Steve Jobs and iPhone software head Scott Forstall publicly described the parameters of the iPhone software development process. Since then, the iPhone and iPod Touch have become truly personal devices to the point that now, the future of the iPhones’ success lies in the hands of outside developers. With applications now the focus for marketing to consumers and business, industry competitors have noticed like the BlackBerry App World.

Apple waited for the right time to open the App doors to outside developers. There have been a few hick-ups for Apple, such as misguided nondisclosure agreement to confusing policies on App Store requirements. This includes agreements  for developers to not disclosing tips or tricks with fellow engineers. Developers can however focus on the positive. “If you would have asked me a year ago if I saw myself making $250,000 selling a fart app, I would have said, ‘you’re nuts’,” said Joel Comm, CEO of Infomedia and iPhone zeitgeist application iFart Mobile. The direction of the app world for Apple is in the hands of the creative developer. So what have you made lately?

[via CNET]