Apple has released the fifth beta of its iPhone Software Development Kit (SDK) which, according to the company, "fixes bugs and adds support for the latest iPhone OS." The iPhone SDK is free, but you will need to log in with your Apple ID to download. This time around, the iPhone SDK weighs in at just over 1GB (previous download size was 1,4GB).

The fifth beta version of the iPhone SDK includes Xcode IDE, iPhone simulator with Open GL ES support, Interface Builder, Instruments, frameworks and samples, compilers, and Shark analysis tool, Apple confirms. The Cupertino-based corporation advises devs to apply to the iPhone Developer Program to test their apps directly on the iPhone and later distribute their software on the App Store.

The iPhone Developer Program provides a complete and integrated process for developing, debugging, and distributing your free, commercial, or in-house applications for iPhone and iPod touch. Complete with development resources, real-world testing on iPhone, and distribution on the App Store, you have everything you need to go from code to customer, Apple assures interested parties.

Apple's official iPhone developer website previously stated that "the iPhone Developer Program will initially be available to a limited number of developers in the U.S. and will expand to other countries in the coming months." Now Apple says the iPhone Dev Program "will initially be available to a limited number of developers during the beta period," as a result to Apple's extending the availability of the program to 27 other countries outside the US.

Apple confirms that using its iPhone SDK, developers, big and small, can make applications that run natively on the company's touchscreen and accelerometer-enabled devices, the iPhone and the iPod touch. To download the iPhone SDK, you will need to log in with your Apple ID. The download is free of charge. Click HERE to download the iPhone SDK Beta 5.