Apple’s iPhone 3.0 operating system upgrade moved step closer to its release as the company began external testing of its push notification service today, according to Cnet.

Apple asked third-party application developers to test out the AP’s iPhone news app in an e-mail. The AP app is the first third-party program to incorporate push notifications on the iPhone platform–a long-promised feature that has been restricted to Apple’s own core applications.

Apple outlined push notifications in March at its press event in March. It had previously promised to deliver the feature in September 2008, but scuttled its plans when the notifications proved difficult to implement.

As an iPhone user, I am hoping that the testing goes smoothly and does not delay the iPhone 3.0 operating system’s expected release this summer. With the wide availability of advanced software testing and performance tools, it likely will, but as my mother used to say, “The proof is in the pudding.” I look forward to hearing reports about the AP app–and other push-enabled ones to come.

 
3 Comments


Read more: Apple, iPhone, Smartphones