Apple tightens iPhone app developer rules

Apps that are incompatible with iPhone 3.0 may be removed from the App Store

Apple is warning developers to update their iPhone applications or risk removal from the App Store.

The company said in an email to developers that it would begin requiring all iPhone applications to be compatible with the upcoming iPhone 3.0 software.

Apple said that it would begin testing all submitted applications with the latest beta of the update and rejecting any incompatible software.

"Existing apps in the App Store should already run on iPhone OS 3.0 without modification, but you should test your existing apps with iPhone OS 3.0 to ensure that there are no compatibility issues," the company said.

"After iPhone OS 3.0 becomes available to customers, any app that is incompatible with iPhone OS 3.0 may be removed from the App Store."

The iPhone 3.0 update was first announced by Apple in March. Since that time, developers have had access to beta versions of the update for testing and development purposes.

In addition to new user features such as 'push' data updates and voice memo recording, the update will contain a number of new APIs which give developers greater access to the iPhone's hardware components and software features.

Apple is expected to officially release the update to consumers later this summer.