Independent software developers for the iPhone have created nearly 2,000 applications for your phone. There are applications that turn your iPhone into a flashlight, keep track of stocks, baseball scores, the news, and allow you to blog right from your mobile phone.

You can get many of these application for free or purchase them for $.99 up to $999.99 (that was an application called “I am rich” that actually did nothing!).

You can browse the applications on your computer or on your iPhone. Here’s how you can check out the applications on your iPhone.

First, you have to have at least version 2.0 of the iPhone software on your phone. To get that, synch your phone with iTunes on your computer, and check the version on the Summary page. If you don’t have at least 2.0, click “Update” and follow the instructions.

After you’ve updated your phone’s software, disconnect it from your computer, and click home. You should see a blue icon with a white “A” in a circle with a blue background. That’s your applications installer. Tap on it.

The next page you see will have a series of icons at the bottom – “Featured” “Categories” “Top 25” “Search” and “Updates.” Tap on any one of them. You’ll be given a menu of applications. If one catches your fancy, tap on it and you’ll be taken to a page with more information, such as a summary of what the application does, who wrote it, when it was released, and user reviews.

If you decide to purchase the software, tap on the button on the top right hand side of the screen that shows the application’s price (or “free”). The button will change color and then be labeled “Install”. This is your last chance, to change your mind. If you tap “Install” you will be asked your Apple account password, and if you have a credit in your iTunes account, the application will begin to download on your computer.

When it’s done, the application is ready to use!

The next time you synch you iPhone you’ll get a message from iTunes that will tell you the iPhone has an application on it that is not backed up on iTunes and ask if you wish to do it. Click yes and then a backup copy will be installed on iTunes.

NOTE: iTunes keeps track of your applications and updates to applications are automatically sent to iTunes or to your phone for downloading.