The case since the introduction of the iPhone has unfortunately been that Microsoft compatible browser plugins have been incompatible with the iPhone making the work of web development considerably more challenging. This means that many developers who rely on Flash, Flex, or Silverlight have been able to create web applications for every operating system other than Mobile Safari. However, recently, Microsoft worked with Apple to develop some changes to Silverlight so that it can be used to stream videos on iPhones. This does not indicate a sudden change of heart by Apple. Browser plug-ins for the iPhone are still restricted but Microsoft has adapted its server to enable Silverlight encoded video to be shown on an iPhone using the well known HTML5 video tag.

It has always been the case that Apple products strictly follow some rules of exclusivity allowing the company to decide what will and will not be compatible with their devices. Some have seen this as one of the major limitations of Apple and subsequently iPods and iPhones while others argue that this gives Apple its only opportunity to fairly compete with Microsoft when it comes to personal computing and web devices. Whatever your stance, the fact remains that this lack of cross compatibility has forced some developers to create RIA and mobile web spaces specifically for iPhones and iPods while the rest of the developers create applications that are compatible across the spectrum of mobile devices, with the exception of iPods and iPhones.

While iTunes and the AppStore are highly successful endeavours drawing a wide range of development talent, the battle for audience has prevented many developers from making the switch, especially since this often requires further investment in development resources. Moreover, this issue has been the topic of lengthy discussion as the world of developers has waited with baited breath for the first fully compatible development tools.

While there are still no platforms that will work with all devices, Microsoft has recently spent time working with Apple in order to enable Silverlight video streaming on iPhones. At their 2009 Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft demonstrated this new capability which is the result of server changes rather than plug-in changes. Microsoft s IIS7 server software has been modified so that it is now capable of sending Quick Time compatible streams to an iPhone while still embedded with an HTML5 video tag.

Much like Flash, Silverlight is a .NET authoring runtime for mobile web applications but offers cross-device, cross-browser, and cross-platform solutions that works identically on Apple and Microsoft operating systems. iPhone users had, until now, a number of problems receiving their content, especially with regards to media content like broadcasting. Microsoft therefore wanted to find an acceptable method to provide users with content.

One of the most beneficial features of Silverlight is that it is able to share the same content on multiple platforms without the need to create a version that is specific to different platforms. This has also been a long-standing benefit of using Adobe Flash or Adobe Air but developers lacked the tools for cross-compatibility with iPhone and iPod operating systems. In fact, Silverlight is Microsoft s answer to Adobe development tools but we still have not reached compatibility with Apple.

Originally developed to provide streaming video, Silverlight has evolved into a tool that can run full web applications. The first step in iPhone compatibility however has been Microsoft adapting to streaming video. Essentially, Silverlight can run MPEG-2 files so Microsoft decided to create a server-side solution to stream videos on the iPhone. Microsoft s IIS Media Services have been enabled to respond to information from an iPhone and transcode immediately to H.264 format.

As a result, content providers who are already using IIS Media Services can share content with iPhones without separate encoding for videos or the need to maintain separate content delivery systems. In other words, Silverlight will use the HTML5 video tag to communicate a Quick Time request through the IIS server which then transcodes the message into MPEG-2 format. Users will then have a wider range of applications and videos that can play on their iPhone. For example, Netflix will now be iPhone compatible.

The main impetus for Microsoft to adapt for iPhone users is simple: money. Silverlight, if all things go to plan, will become the only development tool that is truly cross compatible giving developers a huge motivational force for using this product. More users will get more content, yes, but Microsoft will also position themselves as the market leader for mobile web and RIA development tools. As it stands, Adobe Flash and Flex are typically regarded as the favourites for developers but by opening the doors to iPhones and the greater audience that comes with it, developers will have little reason to use alternate tools.

On the other hand, the expansion of the notion of cross compatibility could completely transform the tools that we use. As mobile web has become more and more popular over the past couple of years, there have been more and more uses for these online applications. The value of using one system across devices ensures that no matter what site you visit, no matter what application you use, your mobile device will function smoothly and efficiently.

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