Is the iPhone about to get a whole lot more risqué?

Getting an app approved on the iPhone can be a tough task. And it's currently all but impossible if your app is a little too sexy or just plain demented.

But all that may soon be changing when Apple launches version 3 of the iPhone OS.

According to iLounge, a newspaper content aggregation app was recently rejected due to the inclusion of photos from The Sun's Page 3, which is NSFI (not safe for iPhone). But the developer, Makayama Media, claims it was told by Apple that version 3.0 of the iPhone OS will include parental controls and that it "would be appropriate to resubmit your application for review once this feature is available". For now, Makayama's application is available in the app store without The Sun and Page 3.

While Apple's apparent statement doesn't indicate that it will permit a free-for-all with the iPhone, any loosening of the current restrictions is bound to be of interest to developers. Needless to say, there would be plenty of potential if Apple gave developers more freedom in developing a wider range of apps. And if Apple goes all the way by allowing the most risqué of apps, you can be sure that there will be many more app store millionaires minted.

Of course, it's in Apple's best interests to strike some sort of reasonable balance and parental controls probably won't be a good enough justification in the eyes of some when it comes to categories like adult content. On the other hand, although Apple looks about as recession proof as is possible these days, loosening up its restrictions is bound to loosen up consumers' wallets. I'd bet my money that's too difficult a proposition for Apple to pass up.

Photo credit: katielips via Flickr.