Applications developed by smart type in the States (6)
I believe the answer is:
usages
'applications' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
'developed by smart type in the states' is the wordplay.
'developed by smart type' becomes 'sage' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'in the' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'states' becomes 'US' (abbreviation for the United States).
'sage' put within 'us' is 'USAGES'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for usages that I've seen before include "Habitual practices with words" , "speech patterns" , "Habitual or customary practices" , "Linguistic norms" , "Customs." .)