The iPhone made its debut in June 2007. One year later, in July 2008, Apple launched the official App Store, the ultimate source of programs for the iPhone (in the first year, iPhone owners got apps through iTunes).
For iPhone owners, 2008 may seem like a long time ago, but it's only been three years. What's most interesting to me about the iPhone is the thought that neither consumers nor developers have yet worked out what standards and norms they want in the app ecosystem. Sure, Apple has its own set of rules, some of them quite strict, about the process for getting apps to market, but in terms of what consumers are willing to buy and how much they're willing to pay, I think we're still in uncharted water.
And you might as well drink up while you can! Truth be told, for most paid apps, there is a free and suitable alternative. Some developers give their apps away for free, but require a subscription or membership to get the real meat of the content. Other developers charge $4, $5, or $6 for their app, but it's a one-time only fee. And of course, some developers program their apps and give them away totally free. Because the marketplace for iOS apps is still relatively new, I think we're going to continue to see free apps—truly free apps, and good ones at that—for some time to come…another year or two at least.
The 40 free iPhone apps that made the cut for this list are the ones that have shown outstanding performance, have been well received by a variety of technology users, and are free. And "free" means free. No gimmicks, no "membership required." Free. Period.
Missing from this list are apps and features (like Siri) that come pre-installed on the iPhone, although they are certainly not to be overlooked. The YouTube, Maps, and Clocks apps in particular should not be ignored, while the iTunes, Music (formerly called iPod app), and App Store apps typically see a fair share of well-deserved usage, but I suppose you technically paid for them because you bought the phone, so they're not really free. In any case, you don't need to choose to download them, so we're not listing them here.
