To write applications for the iPhone, you need to be accepted to the iPhone developer program. You can apply for the program by following the instructions here: http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/.

Once you apply, you'll get an email after a day or two asking you to FAX them some information to confirm your business, or that you are who you claim to be. After you FAX the information, that's when the long wait for acceptance can occur.

But there is a way to speed things up. After waiting a day, call them to confirm that they've received you FAX (since the send no auto-confirmation of receipt). You can find the phone number for your region on this page: http://developer.apple.com/contact/phone.html.

The people on the phone are very nice. And they'll hunt through the queue to find your FAX to confirm that it's been received. And then, and this is the good part, they'll "expedite the process" for you. Assuming your information is legit, they'll confirm you on the spot. No waiting for weeks or more.