This is quite interesting - but it makes a lot of sense to me.

Most of it is about security - once you put *any* other "language" or interpreter on the iPhone - Apple no longer have any control over the code that is run. Its primarily designed to avoid any application being signed/released, that will allow other *unsigned* apps to be downloaded and executed. Specifically plugins.

As long as they are using the Apple APIs - some semblance of security can be maintained.

I can't see why Apple would *ever* allow Java on the iPhone - once you can download/run unsigned Java apps, Apple lose all of the benefits of having a secure App store. It would be like letting people search for MP3s online, then download and save them - for any iPod.

Well, unless they have the resources to do a full security audit of each application they allow, I doubt they'll be able to keep people from easily running any code they want there.

Of course......If they let Skype, Opera, etc., it would damage their business...(Skype = Phone, Opera = Internet)....Iphone already has this stuff...