I have a great idea for an iPhone app, but need to get in touch with smart people with experience in this area for some quick mentoring.  How can I find people who will give me some quick help over Skype?

I have a great working relationship with Custom Software by Preston, and would highly recommend them.  They're local to Chicago, but also have an office in North Carolina.  They handle all types of mobile and web development projects... plus they’re able to meet time frames and budgets.  How can you beat that? Here is their website: http://www.customsoftwarebypreston.com/

Regarding iPhone Apps development - You can feel free to get in touch with me via , sharing your skype ID and I'll try to share with you all the experience I have being a third party App developer company. From dev program enrollment to delivery etc. Regarding Business side of things - We can have a discussion on that too, however let me tell you that iPhone App business is as similar as any other software product business for a start up, so market dynamics remain the same; except the fact that here there is an App store which on one hand gives you a lot of marketing opportunities and visibility for free, and on another hand keeps a strict eye on the product and content you are offering. Their guidelines are publicly available here (they keep on updating it too) - https://developer.apple.com/appstore/guidelines.html, browse through and gain knowledge. :) thnx best -Sudeep http://www.agicent.com

Try the http://1mby1m.com/. It's the only global, virtual incubator in the world. You can get comprehensive guidance and mentoring on what you need to do to build a mobile app business. Anyone, from anywhere in the world can join, as long as you are working within the IT / ITES space. We don't do capital intensive projects like bio tech, pharma, semiconductors, etc. Our methodology is a lean, capital efficient startup approach. I suggest you start by attending a http://1m1m.sramanamitra.com/free-public-roundtables/ online. You can find the schedule and registration details, as well as other guidelines on the site. It is a proven program, and you will find success stories and ROI metrics on the site.

Check out this event in couple of cities http://bemyapp.com/ "FIND THE ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND THE INSPIRATION TO TURN YOUR SEXY APP IDEA INTO REALITY IN 48 HOURS. Are you a developer, designer, marketer or have other super powers? Do you have an idea for a mobile application but not the technical skills to build it? The next BeMyApp is designed just for you. "

I'd suggest learning how to pick up the skill. If you're not technical yourself, the brief skype sessions you have in mind will turn into hours of relentless questions, which you'll more than likely have to pay for. There are several online trainings programs available, but nothing is better than working closely with a mentor to help you get through the highs and lows of learning application development.

You've hit on a couple of important things. The first is that knowing what is possible with the OS is crucial to being realistic about the app's design. But... I think you'll find that there's nothing "quick" about developing an app since so much of it is in the details. Though it is possible to get an overview of feasibility and difficulty for an app with a brief discussion. Let me know if this is something you'd like help with.