iPhone to support paid DLC, peer-to-peer connections

The iPhone OS 3.0 preview event has already revealed two new developments that are going to change iPhone gaming: the ability for developers to sell downloadable content from within an app, and a peer-to-peer capability. According to Engadget's liveblog of the event (which you should be refreshing obsessively), the new In-App Purchase program will allow apps to interface with the iTunes Store from within, using a standard interface to sell DLC. Apple's Scott Forstall clarified that this is for paid apps only: "Free apps remain free -- you won't be asked to buy something in that app."

The other big new development: peer-to-peer connectivity. In Forstall's words, "With the new APIs, you can bring up a standard system panel which finds other touches or iPhones which are in the same app. You form an IP connection, and you can game together. This will automatically discover running apps, wirelessly over Bluetooth." The possibilities for ad-hoc gaming suggest that waiting in line at the next Apple event will be a lot more enjoyable. It will also be used for sharing information or whatever, but yay games.