This isn't exactly the biggest news surrounding Apple right now, but it is worth noting--and applauding--that Apple seems to be rethinking its iPhone application store policy, which in turn will hopefully work out well for the myriad entrepreneurs currently toiling in their garages in the hopes of striking app gold.

Right now, as our readers know, Apple must approve any app that enters the store. Not only that: it very much errs on the side of restricting new apps, particularly when they compete with Apple-produced or -sanctioned software.

So imagine our surprise--and delight!--to see on MobileCrunch that Apple now allows the purchase of Internet browsers from the app store, despite their apparently being in direct competion with the Safari program included on every iPhone.

It's a step in the right direction, and we hope similar, further steps follow. It certainly makes the company look more appealing, from a marketing standpoint. And it could reassure tomorrow's Steve Jobs that right now Apple is a company worth doing business with.

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