Apple's WWDC 2011 sold out within 12 hours

In an unprecedented development, Apple’s 2011 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) filled up its 5,000 seats within just 12 hours of opening ticket sales.

Scheduled to take place on June 6, through June 10, at Moscone West in San Francisco, this years WWDC is expected to feature over 100 technical sessions for both iOS and the Mac OS on application frameworks; graphics, media, and games; developer tools, internet and web; and core OS, in addition to its signature keynote event.

There has been an increase in the number of registered Apple developers over the past few years, thanks to the success of iOS and the App Store, and also to a steadily growing base of Mac users.

WWDC gaining popularity
Every year thousands of programmers from all corners of the world come together at the WWDC to network to hone their skills and participate in discussions with the hundreds of Apple engineers.

Despite of its high admission price ($1,600), WWDC has been selling out faster and faster for the past couple of years.

While it took one full month for the 2009 event to sell out, the 2010 event took about eight days to fill, and this year’s event, less than 12 hours.

Why the craze?
There a number of reasons for this year’s WWDC craze.

There has been an increase in the number of registered Apple developers over the past few years, thanks to the success of iOS and the app Store, and also to a steadily growing base of Mac users.

Further, Apple has dropped the price of membership. Last year it could cost up to $3,499 to become a Mac developer, now it’s just $99.

Also, while earlier conferences have primarily focused on either Apple's mobile or desktop OS, the 2011 WWDC promises to focus on the future of both.

As a result, this would naturally attract a much larger pool of developers than earlier iOS-centric conference.

Another reason could be Apple’s new promotional strategy. In years past, Apple worked with a few select Mac web sites to promote the event, but growth of the Mac platform and the explosion of the iPhone OS/iOS platform has lead to ever-greater attendance and interest in the event.

Tickets for the event have even found their way to eBay, where they were last being sold as high as $3,150.

But for those of us who can’t make it to the event, Apple has promised to post videos from WWDC sessions quickly afterwards.