Since today is Firefox Download Day 2008, I began thinking about the possibility of other Web browsers appearing on Apple's new AppStore when the 3G iPhone is released next month.

While I can see why Apple would want to block other browsers from the AppStore, I'm not sure I can see them actually doing it. I'm sure Apple would be very happy were they to gain more Safari desktop users as a result of their using its mobile version, but would it be worth a visit from the Department of Justice? They would open themselves up to an anti-trust lawsuit the likes of which haven't been seen since a more innocent era when Microsoft had its own troubles with the DoJ.

That having been said, I can see Apple attempting to make certain features available only to its own browser, like having it be the one default browser on the iPhone. This too, however, could get Apple into trouble. Locking out the competition by making Safari the only browser that can be launched when a user taps a link in another app, for example, probably won't fly with other browser developers, who may decide to appeal to the DoJ.

I'm hoping that Apple takes the high road, and fully opens the iPhone up to the developers of other Web browsers. It's not that I really need to use another Web browser, but options are always good, competition is always good, and it will set a nice precedent for other third-party iPhone developers.

For now, it's time to sit back...and wait.