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The application of success

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Apple's iPhone was named invention of the year in 2007 by Time magazine. It is considered one of the greatest gadgets of all time.

One of the iPhone's biggest innovations was the introduction of the App Store, which allowed users to download small programs - some for cash and some for free - that added functionality to the device.

Since their introduction, more than 2 billion apps have been downloaded worldwide.

The phone has also become popular with teenagers in Hong Kong and now that outside vendors can submit their applications to the store, the supply and demand for better apps is growing. This was an opportunity that Ivan Wan Sai-hong, who studied computer science, could not miss. Last year, he quit his job in television production to become a freelance app developer.

'I had an interest in the media so I took a job in television after graduating. But developing iPhone apps allows me to make use of my knowledge in computers to develop skills in new areas.'

The cost of entry to the store as a would-be developer is fairly low for those short of capital. 'The only cost is a US$99 annual registration fee which is paid to Apple. (If accepted) apps will be put on to the store for downloading. I will share the profit of the download fee with Apple.'

Wan's first app - the hell bank note - has been downloaded more than 500 times since its release in December last year. At a cost of US$1.99, 70 per cent of the profit goes to 29-year-old Wan and the remainder to Apple.

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