Holiday Gift Guide »

iPhone App Dev Aint Easy: Apple Rejects App for ‘Duplicating Functionality’

Categories: Apple, iPhone
By: , IntoMobile
Monday, September 22nd, 2008 at 12:40 PM

I have a few iPhone app developer friends that have told me some interesting stories. Sometimes it is a tough struggle to get an App into the App Store… and even if they succeed, it could be removed at any time. Tracking of sales and other vital statistics have been slowly getting better and better for developers… Yet I know there is some real frustration for developers because Apple holds all of the cards.

Case in point, an app called MailWrangler. The app was written to simplify access to multiple Gmail accounts from your iPhone. Developer Angelo DiNardi has reported that Apple rejected the submission to the App Store for ‘duplicating funcionality’. This isn’t the first time the ‘duplicating functionality’ issue has come up.

In an email received by DiNardi, Apple stated: “Your application duplicates the functionality of the built-in iPhone application Mail without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality, which will lead to user confusion.”

In reality, Apple’s response is more confusing to me than the MailWrangler app. MailWrangler does something that none of the built-in iPhone apps can do… use multiple Gmail accounts simultaneously while presenting the full Gmail features only available from the web interface. Using the built-in Mail app for the accounts denies you several of Gmail’s features. I’d say that is different enough, wouldn’t you?

Lots of other apps have been rejected for numerous reasons… My only concern is that Apple is applying their standards arbitrarily… and unevenly. The rules need to be clear cut, and I think there is some confusion out there which is causing developers continued frustration.

Read more about Angelo’s struggles here… and be sure to leave him a positive comment. App development ‘aint easy!

[Via: ARSTechnica]

SPONSORED MESSAGE
Get free domestic and international calls and texts to anyone with the Vonage Mobile app available as an iPhone calling app or Android calling app.

About The Author

James Falconer

James was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. Almost 15 years ago he started out in the 'real world' as a web and graphic designer. Through the years he has finely tuned his skills in SEO, internet marketing, conversion strategy, and project management. To date, he runs his own successful consulting business where he advises companies all over the globe. A co-founder of www.crackberry.com, and sole proprietor of www.mactropolis.com, James in recent years has become very active in the tech blogosphere. Online community building and strategy is fast becoming one of his passions. Watch for James' no frills attitude, unique perspective and to-the-point comments here on IntoMobile!

  • Counsel

    I can understand his frustration, and I share the frustration when there should be alternatives that I want but that Apple hasn’t approved.

    When we think about the “big picture,” we understand that this is not “open for debate.” Apple’s hold on the iPhone is complete (unless you “pwn” your phone with one of the various options available).

    If we don’t like this, we should abandon Apple. If market share slides, Apple MAY consider altering its strategy. If the average phone user does “not care,” Apple will not alter their corporate policy.

    Remember, many companies do not try to please everyone–you can’t. They try to please a majority of those who are buying the phone. My guess is that the average user (not those technically inclined) are fantastically happy with the iPhone. Those I know are, and I remain confused…

  • Simon Sage

    And it’s because of stuff like this that I don’t like Apple. I will take a rough but open solution over a shiny closed one any day of the week.

  • Jamie

    I’m not sure why this is confusing. If your app competes with Apple in an area they care about they will find a reason to reject you. Is that a suprise? Trying to read the tea leaves of the various BS reasons they give for rejecting you misses the point. It’s about eliminating competition in strategic areas.