You may recall Apple being picky about its iPhone Developer Program. The company has selected only a limited number of devs to bless the iPhone with their ideas, leaving hundreds hanging out to dry. Sensing more clarification was in order, Apple issued an email follow-up in which the company expresses its future intentions with applicants. It seems that not-yet-enrolled developers still have a shot at the iPhone.

First things first though. Here's an excerpt from Apple's first email sent out to applicants:

"Thank you for expressing interest in the iPhone Developer Program. We have received your enrollment request," said the Cupertino-based company in its email to those who applied and didn't fit the profile that Apple was looking for, at least for an early enrollment. "As this time, the iPhone Developer Program is available to a limited number of developers and we plan to expand during the beta period. We will contact you again regarding your enrollment status at the appropriate time," Apple assured applicants.

The follow-up sounds a bit more assuring that devs left out in the cold are still eligible for the race to throw apps on Apple's touchscreen handsets (since theiPod touch is getting the same services and apps with the release of firmware 2.0):

"We have many more requests than we can serve during this initial beta period," explains the follow-up e-mail, "so we must limit the Program at this time. We plan to expand it during the beta period, and we will contact you regarding your enrollment status at the appropriate time. We appreciate your patience."

Of course, there's one more aspect to be taken into consideration here: KPCB's iFund, announced at Apple's March 6 event, in Cupertino. Patience stops being much of a virtue when $100 million is at stake, don't you think?

KPCB's iFund is a $100M investment initiative that will fund market-changing ideas and products that extend the revolutionary new iPhone and iPod touch platform.