It’s been a while since iPhone users have been locked out of their third party apps due to a crash bug. Steve Jobs has assured users that his company is aware of the issue and is working on it. He states: “This is a known iPhone bug that is being fixed in the next software update in September.”

Steve’s one line email to an AppleInsider reader sets a date to address the issue which has been prominent in Apple’s support forums. There have been reports that the 2.0 firmware fails to load the non default app. It briefly loads them before suddenly reverting back to the home screen. (I know, I have the same question: who is this reader, and what proof do we have–beyond the appleinsider report–that Steve Jobs actually sent out that email? We’re still investigating that angle.)

The issue occurs with newly downloaded software and with the updates as well. There is no definite fix though some have claimed that they are able to regain access by deleting and downloading it again. There are others who say this step doesn’t work or it decays gradually over time and brings them back to square one where the app fails to run. Restoring the device hardly works either.

The recently released updates of 2.0.1. and 2.0.2. updates have been of little help. There have been reports that the patches even break what ran earlier. There have been speculations that the cause could be the improper set of permissions associated to running the apps. A support agent had told a member of the Apple Forum that the issue could have occurred due to his iTunes account being split into two confusing the device when it tries to load an app. Some owners experience problems with downloads rather than issues with the iTunes.

iPhone users facing problems with downloading apps will be eagerly waiting the September updates. Hopefully, the issue will be addressed by then.