Apple Rejects Radio App Update Due to "Excessive" Data Transfer

[MacRumors]

iPhone developer Return7 posts that Apple has rejected a version update to their CastCatcher radio app. The reason for rejection is cited to be "excessive" bandwidth consumption over cellular networks:

CastCatcher Internet Radio cannot be posted to the App Store because it is transferring excessive volumes of data over the cellular network, which as outlined in the iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.15, is prohibited

The developers note that the application doesn't use any more bandwidth than other competing iPhone radio apps. Apple has also accepted earlier versions of the application to the App Store.

CastCatcher version 1.2 remains available in the App Store: iTunes Link.

Article Link: Apple Rejects Radio App Update Due to "Excessive" Data Transfer

[Yuppi]

I don't get it. Listening to internet radio via a 3G modem is fine, but not on an iPhone? However I can see how it is not Apple here to blame. Just most Operators suck....

[Kilamite]

Apple needs to get consistent with this. There's too many contradictions.

[NT1440]

Originally Posted by Kilamite

Apple needs to get consistent with this. There's too many contradictions.

I beleive the data transfers are actually a gripe of AT&T.

[macduke]

What does it say in iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.15? Does it have a hard limit, or just say that excessive use is not allowed? What is excessive usage? 128kbps? Ridiculous. Maybe their latest version had a bug that accidentally made it use more data than what is required to complete the task?

[nagromme]

Maybe some glitch made it fail a bandwidth test. Resubmit?

I hope AT&T doesn't crack down on my Pandora!

[MadDoc]

These rejections from the App Store just seem to be getting ridiculous.

I wish there was more clarity in what is and isn't allowed. Just what exactly constitutes "excessive use"?

MadDoc,

[Kilamite]

Originally Posted by NT1440

I beleive the data transfers are actually a gripe of AT&T.

Yes, but if there are already apps on the store that use the same amount of bandwidth as the update they wanted on the store, that is inconsistency in the store.

[macintel4me]

I can't imagine that bandwidth changed much between versions, if at all. Seems like Apple is getting more rigid about the acceptance process to me.

[radiogod69]

WTF, so contradicting. You can get streaming radio through iHeartRadio @ AAC quality but denies this app for the same thing? There's no cap on AT&T bandwidth usage so whats the big deal??? APPROVE it Apple.

[djinn]

Originally Posted by radiogod69

WTF, so contradicting. You can get streaming radio through iHeartRadio @ AAC quality but denies this app for the same thing? There's no cap on AT&T bandwidth usage so whats the big deal??? APPROVE it Apple.

I believe there is a limit in fine print in the TOS. Something 2gig or 5gig of data use and you will be contacted if exceeded.

[funnyent]

So even though im paying $20 for unlimited data, but its not really unlimited? What's with this AT&T? And Apple, you let Pandora and AOL radio, but not this?

[djinn]

Not sure why. Maybe something under the table we users don't know about.

[funnyent]

Originally Posted by djinn

I believe there is a limit in fine print in the TOS. Something 2gig or 5gig of data use and you will be contacted if exceeded.

Stupid fine print! No one like crap like that when your paying so much to AT&T

[djinn]

Wouldn't be the first I heard about capping of internet though. Even my verizon wireless card when purchased was under the unlimited data plan but in the fine print says, 5gig limit. I called and asked about it and they said if I exceed it a couple of times my account could be deactivated.

Someone call AT&T about this?

[mari0]

Okay....so what is Last FM all about...you can listen to 'radio stations' over that....

Apple sort your self out.

[ArtOfWarfare]

Originally Posted by funnyent

So even though im paying $20 for unlimited data, but its not really unlimited? What's with this AT&T? And Apple, you let Pandora and AOL radio, but not this?

Yes, AT&T sucks. We can all whine about it or we can actually do something...

boycott!

Get the iPod Touch and save yourself the horrible bill. Wait a few years for AT&T's exclusive contract to expire and get the 3rd or 4th generation iPhone which hopefully won't have obscure prices/bandwidth limits (or maybe WiMax will finally come through by then and be available for the iPod Touch?)

[bobbleheadbob]

I have the AOL Radio app. How is this any different? Streaming internet radio over any app should take up about the same bandwidth, right? I mean the audio coming in is from the same source material, isn't it? It's just the app, functionality and interface that's different. Very strange.

[gilkisson]

Originally Posted by macduke

What does it say in iPhone SDK Agreement section 3.3.15? Does it have a hard limit, or just say that excessive use is not allowed? What is excessive usage? 128kbps? Ridiculous. Maybe their latest version had a bug that accidentally made it use more data than what is required to complete the task?

Quoting that section, found on Google:

Cellular Network:
3.3.15 If an Application requires or will have access to the cellular network, then additionally such Application:
- Must comply with Apple's best practices and other guidelines on how Applications should access and use the cellular network;
- Must not in Apple's reasonable judgment excessively use or unduly burden network capacity or bandwidth;
- May not have Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality.

There ya go. That's as specific as it gets.

[macintel4me]

Even though I find it near draconian this app was rejected by Apple, the Return7 folks aren't doing themselves any favors by blogging about it. A violation of the NDA and now they risk being removed from the App Store altogether.

[Eric.]

Originally Posted by gilkisson

Quoting that section, found on Google:

Cellular Network:
3.3.15 If an Application requires or will have access to the cellular network, then additionally such Application:
- May not have Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functionality.

There ya go. That's as specific as it gets.

So a VoIP app (which Apple has previously said would be okay) would only be usable on Wifi. Is there a way to restrict an apps use to only working when it is connected to Wifi and not to the cell network?

[gilkisson]

Originally Posted by Eric.

So a VoIP app (which Apple has previously said would be okay) would only be usable on Wifi. Is there a way to restrict an apps use to only working when it is connected to Wifi and not to the cell network?

Yep. Ever tried iTunes on 3G? It flat tells you, wifi or nothing.

[DukeofAnkh]

If this is AT&T's gripe what about the rest of the world? It seems a bit unfair that we should miss out because of a carrier we don't use.

[polobruce]

I'm really getting tired of Apple putting these types of restrictions on the device especially as it relates to bandwidth consumption.

If I paid $60.00 for a broadband card from at&t there is no restriction as to what i can put on my laptop and run off it is there?

I'm fine with them saying you only can transfer 1 gig or something... But when I pay 200+ dollars for 2 iphones with data, sms and phone, shouldn't we get something for our money???

These carriers are going to need to find another business model, the public expects open devices with open internet access. If you can't provide that someone else will come in and do it.

[DipDog3]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5F136 Safari/525.20)

I would complain, but Apple doesn't care. Someone spends weeks/months on an app & Apple rejects it just because they can. Why do developers even put up with it?