IPhone pay any costs to release or distribute the application beyond the membership fee. The App Store was launched with the release of iOS 2.0, on July 11, 2008. The update was free for iPhone users; owners of older iPod Touches were required to pay US$10 for it. Once a developer has submitted an application to the App Store, Apple holds firm control over its distribution. Apple can halt the distribution of applications it deems inappropriate, for example, I Am Rich, a US$1000 program that simply demonstrated the wealth of its user. Apple has been criticized for banning third-party applications that
People Power Company at Bitfone, which was acquired by Hewlett-Packard. People Power was initially envisioned as a greentech company with a focus on energy efficiency. In 2013, the company released its "Presence" app, which is designed to turn older smartphones and tablets into home monitoring devices and sensors using the device's built-in camera. The Presence app also allows users to monitor and control third-party internet-connected appliances and electrical usage in their homes. The app was originally available for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices. In mid-2013, the company's Chief Scientist, John Teeter, was selected as a Presidential Innovation Fellow and worked at the