It took six to nine months to build a relationship with a carrier, maybe a quarter-million to get the infrastructure built, and the company took 50 percent or more from each dollar,” Mr. Farago says, a process that limited access to mobile platforms. “Apple has helped create a much healthier middle class of developers and expanded the pie for everyone.
App Store Is a Game Changer for Apple and Cellphone Industry – NYTimes.com
I am critical of the approval process in the iTunes App Store. But there is no doubt they have dramatically improved the mobile world.