Earlier today, Adobe demoed a version of Flash running on Google's Android OS and yet to date there is no light at the end of the virtual tunnel for Flash on the iPhone. Sure, Adobe says they are working on a version of Flash, but are there other factors in play that are preventing Flash on the iPhone?

An interesting article from Wired today theorizes a few reasons why Apple will never allow Flash to run on the iPhone. Having control over both the hardware and software, Apple enjoys a certain level of control of their products. For consumers, this delivers a very seamless end user experience. Flash in many respects has capabilities synonymous with a full blown operating system capable of running applications. Here's where things get a bit tricky. If Flash were to become available, developers would have a back door of sorts to deliver apps that wouldn't necessarily get approved for the App Store.  Wired's Brian Chen writes, "Flash would divert business from the App Store, as well as enable publishers to distribute music, videos and movies that could compete with the iTunes Store."

It would seem Apple wants no part of Flash or any application that has the capability to run programs. Chen believes clause 3.3.2 of the iPhone developers TOS  effectively prohibits executable code by any means, thus prohibiting Flash from making it's way to the iPhone. The same clause is why you'll never see Opera's browser either. While Opera's effort would duplicate software readily available on the iPhone in Safari, there is no such alternative for iPhone owners when it comes to Flash. This leaves consumers with a seamless user experience, but one that is lacking the "real Internet".

via Wired