Apple says it “welcomes competition” via a new App Store webpage

In or as well as thus other defensive motility next flat activeness lawsuits as well as complaints accusing App Store of alleged monopoly, the Cupertino theatre today published a novel Principles as well as Practices section on the App Store micro-site, offering or as well as thus clarity on the shop itself as well as its screening process.

App Store is “dedicated to the best shop sense for everyone,” the championship has it.

We created App Store amongst 2 goals inwards mind: that it endure a security as well as trusted house for customers to discovery as well as download apps, as well as a slap-up concern chance for all developers. We receive got responsibleness for ensuring that apps are held to a high criterion for privacy, security, as well as content because nil is to a greater extent than of import than maintaining the trust of our users.

And this…

We believe contest makes everything ameliorate as well as results inwards the best apps for our customers. We besides aid virtually character over quantity, as well as trust over transactions. That’s why, fifty-fifty though other stores receive got to a greater extent than users as well as to a greater extent than app downloads, App Store earns to a greater extent than coin for developers. Our users trust Apple — as well as that trust is critical to how nosotros operate a fair, competitive shop for developer app distribution.

“It’s our store. And nosotros receive got responsibleness for it,” reads the sub-section focusing on the approving procedure as well as the App Store Review Guidelines that render guidance to developers on edifice the best apps.

We believe that what’s inwards our shop says a lot virtually who nosotros are. We strongly back upward all points of consider beingness represented on App Store. But nosotros besides receive got steps to brand certain apps are respectful to users amongst differing opinions as well as turn down apps for whatever content or behaviour that nosotros believe is over the draw — peculiarly when it puts children at risk. For example, nosotros strictly prohibit whatever app that features pornographic material, discriminatory references, torture as well as abuse or anything else inwards exceptionally wretched taste.

The developer guidelines specify that all App Store apps should endure safe, render a goodness user experience, adhere to Apple’s rules on user privacy, secure devices from malware as well as threats as well as purpose “approved concern models.”

The “Approved concern models” advert mightiness endure interpreted yesteryear lawyers inwards courtroom equally a sign that Apple reserves the correct to reject apps that competition its ain ones, which is just what Spotify has argued inwards its European anticompetitive electrical charge (Apple responded to Spotify’s accusations amongst an open alphabetic character addressing claims of anticompetitive behavior).

Apple outlines the next 8 app categories:

• Free apps (no committee taken)


• Free apps amongst ads (no committee taken)


• Free apps amongst physical goods as well as services (no committee taken)


• Reader apps that serve content purchased exterior the app (no committee taken)


• Free apps amongst in-app purchases (30 per centum commission)


• Paid apps (30 per centum commission)


• Free apps amongst subscription (30 per centum during the starting fourth dimension year, xv per centum thereafter)


• Cross-platform apps (30 per centum alone on purchases made inside the app)

The screening procedure uses a combination of automated systems as well as hundreds of human experts, the fellowship explains. The webpage offers or as well as thus rather interesting stats. For example, Apple’s removed over 1.4 1000000 apps since 2016 because they receive got non been updated or don’t operate the most recent versions of iOS. “This helps unclutter the search for novel apps, as well as makes it easier for users to discovery character apps,” reads the post.

Each week, the editorial squad reviews a whopping 100,000 apps, amongst most of the apps beingness reviewing pithing 24 hours of the submission. About 60 per centum of submissions larn approved straight off as well as twoscore per centum are rejected.

developers of rejected apps can revise their app or laid about an appeal process. The review team makes virtually a one 1000 telephone calls each calendar week to developers to assist them diagnose as well as resolve the issues that led to rejection. “The most mutual ground for rejection is “minor bugs”, Apple says, followed yesteryear “privacy concerns.”

You tin discovery the novel webpage at apple.com/ios/app-store/principles-practices.

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