Think B2B, for example. The iPhone (and the others - Android, Palm, Blackberry), combined with the app store model provide two things: 1) users effectively get a handheld computer which always has internet access, and 2) developers get much more access to these mobile devices than carriers have traditionally allowed. Pick an industry - what does this allow them to do that they couldn't before? (ideally, something that is difficult to do with a simple mobile version of a website). Chances are they're hearing a lot about this iPhone thing, but don't really know what to do about it - can you help them figure it out?
As for consulting, I started out with a bit of luck, a company I was subletting office space from wanted an app made. Past that, referrals are priceless. And yes, this hasn't come up yet, but they absolutely pay if the app gets rejected - you get paid for the work you do, not for the success (or failure) of the app. Most clients are curious (and fearful) of the approval process, and it's very valuable if you can guide them through the submission process and likely pitfalls - but approval is not ultimately your responsibility.
Sorry for the newb question, but are you saying that ANY app developed for the iPhone (including a custom app for a client) must go through the App Store before being installed on their phones? I'm asking because we have a web-based intranet app that we could create an iPhone-based version of, but it's only useful to the client. So, there's no reason to put in on the App Store. But it sounds like you're saying all apps must go through it. (Edit: I don't own an iPhone so this is new territory for me)
For small deployments, you can use "Ad-hoc" distribution - users have to jump through some minor hoops (give you their device UUID, then drag the app file into their iTunes and sync to the iPhone), but it works. It's mainly aimed at distributing copies for testing or reviewing before an app hits the app store, and I think there's a limit to how many copies you can distribute this way (100 different devices? Don't remember 100%, I'd have to look it up).
You can also physically install the app yourself from your development machine if you get their device (again, there might be a limit on the number of devices, since you have to register each one).
As rdouble mentioned, there's also the enterprise program.
And, of course, there are jailbroken devices with third party app "stores". I don't have much experience with these, but jailbroken iPhones are supposed to make up a significant percentage of users - might not be as useful for business use, though.
Ahh ok, thanks for clearing that up. I remembered after my last post that my professor showed me a free Standford web class on developing for iPhone, and they were giving real, in-person students iPhones to test their apps on. Still, they shouldn't limit this, nobody would overtake the appstore, they just can't stand even the smallest percentage getting around them. Makes me sick. The iPhone could be such a better device, but Apple keeps cutting apps for the use of 'undocumented APIs'. A few apps made the camera do things that Apple never imagined being possible, and they get cut for the above reason. I just wish they would open up more, broaden their horizon a bit. They're such control freaks.
There's a way to do it but you need to be an approved "enterprise" developer. Nobody I know has actually completed the process. This PDF has more info:
Thanks for the link. After reading the deployment notes, I'm kind of shocked that they make it so hard to deploy custom apps that you have no intention of selling via App Store. It sounds like a web-based app tailored to the iPhone is the way to go.
Wow, you can't even load your own apps onto iPhone? Damn, I knew Apple was closed-minded, but this takes the cake. If you spend that much money for that monstrosity, you ought to be able to put what you want onto it, you know, like all other phones i'm aware of. Holy Crap. Just another reason I'll never buy one. Can someone confirm this? I'm having trouble even believing that. If this were true, how do you test it, with only an emulator?
Also how does one get into iPhone consulting. Do you still get paid if your client's app gets rejected?