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Cydia is set to become the first outlet to offer access to the applications banned from the iTunes App Store by Apple. The only caveat is that you have to jailbreak your iPhone in order to install the applications.

The way Cydia works is by using the installation framework from Debian Linux to install the application packages on the iPhone. Saurik developed Cydia as a way to install applications and then built an App Store around the interface.

This could be the first major challenger to compete with Apple in selling applications to the millions of iPhone users that bought one of the devices in the last couple of years. Apple has come under fire for restricting applications based on functionality, inappropriate content or competing with iPhone functions.

Users must choose between Cydia and the iTunes App Store since they have to jailbreak their phones. If developers list their application in both sites, the Cydia App Store could outpace iTunes in terms of usefulness. Especially since Cydia is likely to offer advanced technology such as tethering or a GSM-enabled VoIP application.

Many of the applications that users download are barely ever actually used, so the improved functionality could prove to be a strong lure. Have you been thinking about jail-breaking your iPhone to gain any of these features?

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