Apple disallows app recommendation through applications in its app stores

iPhone app developers must take a note as Apple has further tightened its app store submission norms. It has come to notice that recently Apple has disallowed publishing a particular application as it had the option to recommend applications developed by other iPhone developers. According to one of the major rules of the Apple iTunes store, if an iPhone developer develops an app then they might recommend other applications made by them in the past. However, the developer cannot recommend apps from other developers. The developer which has received a mail from Apple seems to have violated the App store. However the mailer does not cite any references to bookmarking, filtering, social sharing of applications developed by other iPhone app developers.

The reason

A little thinking in this direction can easily suggest that Apple has been infact very thoughtful about this particular decision. Apple values its app store as it has become a golden laying egg for Apple. It’s due to the app store only, that despite having a lower market share, Apple still leads in revenues. Apple cannot afford to break the momentum.

If Apple allows apps to recommend apps developed by other developers then mobile app development companies with popular apps might become the opinion leaders in the app store. Anyone can then pay them to get their apps on the tops even when the applications might not deserve that much of attention. This will create an unfair environment for the talented iPhone app developer who expect a fair treatment on the app store based solely on talent and quality of the application developed.

Apple still has the ball in its court as it has the best app store that rates high in quality of applications. And in order to maintain that, it needs to take a few decisions that might be a little unpleasant.