CSBJ Daily

The Associated Press

CUPERTINO, Calif. _ Apple Inc. wants the iPhone to become a business e-mail gadget – and a portable video game machine that might also help users manage their health records.

Apple unveiled new software last week that reflects its intensifying effort to court business customers and placate third-party developers who want to build iPhone applications but have been locked out. A beta version of the software went out Thursday; the full version will be available in June.

With the announcement, Apple is foraying beyond the consumer cell phone market while simultaneously supporting innovations for the phone that could spur sales. But not all developers will be happy with Apple’s approach, since the company will retain tight control over what programs go on the iPhone.