Apple To Reject Apps Not Compliant With iPhone OS 3.0
While some app developers might see this as another facet of Apple's draconian approval tactics, the move is intended to ensure that iPhone users aren't downloading incompatible programs after the release of iPhone OS 3.0.
According to a report in The Washington Post, the Cupertino, Calif., crew sent an e-mail to developers warning them that any app submitted to the App Store for review and approval must be compatible with the new OS. The consequences for being incompatible are immediate rejection.
The beta version of iPhone OS 3.0 is available today and as of today any app that doesn't function in the iPhone OS 3.0 Beta will be rejected outright. Existing applications aren't spared the potential ignominy of having an app removed either, with The Washington Post reporting that Apple has made it clear that if current apps don't work with the newest OS, they will be removed from the iTunes App Store.
According to the e-mail Apple sent to developers, which was seen by the newspaper, the new iPhone OS is the benchmark current and future apps will be judged by.
"Beginning today, all submissions to the App Store will be reviewed on the latest beta of iPhone OS 3.0. If your app submission is not compatible with iPhone OS 3.0, it will not be approved. Existing apps in the App Store should already run on iPhone OS 3.0 without modification, but you should test your existing apps with iPhone OS 3.0 to ensure there are no compatibility issues," The Washington Post said, quoting the e-mail.
Apple is expected to release the new iPhone OS around the same time as its World Wide Developer Conference in June. A new version of the mobile phone itself also is expected then.