Apple Delaying Telegram From Releasing Major App Store Update, Telegram CEO Says [Updated]

[Arbuthnott]

It's always funny how some companies complain about Apple's review process when you later find out that they've been contacted by Apple multiple times about violating App Store Guidelines with things like improper use of APIs, data collection, incorrect metadata or privacy labels and so on. [...]

I suspect that you are right in this case also. I deleted Telegram from my phone because I kept finding that I was on some group or other receiving lots of unwanted and unasked for investment advice. Every time, I deleted these threads more appeared. The simple answer was to delete the damn app. Who needs the hassle? Perhaps others have had similar experiences and complained to Apple that they are apparently unable to prevent such intrusions.

Overall, very much agreed. Some high profile person starts trying to play the "media" card to get their app approved, and the next thing news emerges about some genuine problem or other that they are aware of and have probably created deliberately. Such as giving user information to those wanting to advertise their unsolicited investment "opportunities", for example. I look forwards to seeing more about the wonderful communication initiative that Apple are apparently blocking ...

 

[arlomedia]

I’m sorry but the “Apple tax” is completely legit. You’re using Xcode and apple APIs to make your app, you gotta pay for those tools somehow.

I have no problem paying a reasonable price for the tools I use. But 15% or 30% of my sales revenue forever, for tools whose market value can't be assessed because no competition to them is allowed, doesn't seem reasonable.

I use Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro; they cost a few hundred bucks and are well worth it. Imagine if the cost to use these tools was 30% of all the revenue from any projects you created with them. If given the choice, I doubt anyone would use them.

 

[Criss P.]

Do popular apps get priority in the review process?

I would find that disrespectful to every other developer. Everyone deserves same treatment and expenditure.

 

[Arbuthnott]

i don't use telegram but the more competition WhatsApp has then all the better. **** that piece of trash. Shame on Apple.

Delete Whatsapp and download Signal/Telegram.

I used to use Telegram but deleted it when I could not stop messages from groups providing investment advice. Signal is rather disappointing, because it does not maintain information in the cloud that can be synchronised between devices. As a result each of my devices only contains those parts of message threads that were carried out on them. This is very inconvenient!

 

[Dr@g0n]

It's always funny how some companies complain about Apple's review process when you later find out that they've been contacted by Apple multiple times about violating App Store Guidelines with things like improper use of APIs, data collection, incorrect metadata or privacy labels and so on.

Over the past 7 years, I've published probably 25+ apps to App Store for a variety of clients (startups, SMEs and even Fortune 500 companies) and every time we got rejected in review it was due to our fault - either in the listing or a bug that got missed in internal QA. And I have to say, even with L1 support, they've been fairly on point to outlining what's wrong and how to fix it. I know this is just one experience but I highly doubt that they have an app in review for 2 weeks if they've done everything correctly.

Yes, developers complain about everything, the customers too. When there are fake app or security issue, the customers will say that Apple's app review process is bad. How to review super quick on huge idea of developers (and also the idea to hack the system of the hackers) and that process has to be fast. Telegram CEO should give Apple an advice, oh maybe he will say, let the customer install everything they want and they will be the one in charge of their security, they don't know, I don't care and you shouldn't too because we will sell them =)))

 

[Arbuthnott]

I have no problem paying a reasonable price for the tools I use. But 15% or 30% of my sales revenue forever, for tools whose market value can't be assessed because no competition to them is allowed, doesn't seem reasonable.

As a customer, I am more than willing to pay the equivalent of this amount in order to buy software in Apple's closed system. So rest assured that we customers are pleased that someone has our interests at heart. And of course it's us paying this charge, and not you. You have already priced your apps at a level that provides you with the return that you are looking for, after the deduction of Apple's "fee". So I suggest that you should stop whingeing about this.

Of course, your objection may be that you don't want to be subject to the rules that Apple imposes, in its users' favour. If so, you certainly share the same objections as people like FaceBook. Be aware that us customers prefer to have Apple's protection rather than to allow just anything to be sold to us without us being protected

 

[ComRadMac]

You know what? I'll bet it doesn't revolutionize anything.

 

[a.phoenicis]

It's always funny how some companies complain about Apple's review process when you later find out that they've been contacted by Apple multiple times about violating App Store Guidelines with things like improper use of APIs, data collection, incorrect metadata or privacy labels and so on.

Over the past 7 years, I've published probably 25+ apps to App Store for a variety of clients (startups, SMEs and even Fortune 500 companies) and every time we got rejected in review it was due to our fault - either in the listing or a bug that got missed in internal QA. And I have to say, even with L1 support, they've been fairly on point to outlining what's wrong and how to fix it. I know this is just one experience but I highly doubt that they have an app in review for 2 weeks if they've done everything correctly.

My experience as a developer was similar.

 

[Arbuthnott]

I have no problem paying a reasonable price for the tools I use. But 15% or 30% of my sales revenue forever, for tools whose market value can't be assessed because no competition to them is allowed, doesn't seem reasonable.

I use Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro; they cost a few hundred bucks and are well worth it. Imagine if the cost to use these tools was 30% of all the revenue from any projects you created with them. If given the choice, I doubt anyone would use them.

You are using their shop front to sell your stuff. How are you going to market your product if Apple does not provide this? The real problem is that you want access to Apple's shop front without paying anything for it, so that you can have the benefit of access to all Apple's customers. It's like having your cake and eating it, as one might say.

Just to be clear, it's us customers who pay Apple's fee, not you. You have priced your apps taking Apple's fee into account, and so your revenue is not actually affected. That being the case, your objection must be to the constraints that Apple imposes on you and FaceBook and so on in order to protect Apple's customers

 

[codewrangler]

Any chance that this app update gets rid of all the bots? I'm being deluged with "Hi", "Hello", "here's my pic", etc.. Telegram is turning into a cesspool...

 

[Scotticus]

Apple is reviewing the revolutionary Telegram features to determine which they'd like to poach for iMessage.

This was my first thought as well 😂

 

[jupiterape]

Apple needs time to steal the idea. That's why they're taking so long at approving the app. Apple always steals others' ideas and then says it's theirs and revolutionary!!! Just look at all the jailbreak tweaks developers have created that Apple steals without credit or payment and then adds to their platform and say "they" came up with it. HA.

**** Apple!

 

[Jmco173]

Does Telegram know that without Apple, his app is nothing more than a bunch of useless code. These developers complain that Apple takes the 30 percent but they forget that if not for apple and Google, they would have NOTHING. Telegram would not exist if not for IOS and Android so I don’t think that 30 percent is not unreasonable.

 

[arlomedia]

Of course, your objection may be that you don't want to be subject to the rules that Apple imposes, in its users' favour. If so, you certainly share the same objections as people like FaceBook. Be aware that us customers prefer to have Apple's protection rather than to allow just anything to be sold to us without us being protected

Just to give a real-world example of "the rules that Apple imposes, in its users' favour": this week I had a bug fix release blocked because Apple noticed that one of the marketing images I uploaded to the iPhone portion of the App Store listing showed an iPad. These images had been there for dozens of previous releases and then suddenly triggered a rejection. I know that for my users, the bug fix is more important than redoing the promotional photos. So I'm skeptical when someone tells me the high fees justify this kind of gatekeeping. It seems like checking for things like hidden APIs or insecure network access is automated; the manual part of app review seems to focus on Apple protecting its business model, plus random superficial stuff.

And of course it's us paying this charge, and not you. You have already priced your apps at a level that provides you with the return that you are looking for, after the deduction of Apple's "fee". So I suggest that you should stop whingeing about this.

Maybe Apple should charge the fees directly to the customer -- show it as a line item next to the app price. They could call it the "App Store Distribution Fee" or "Customer Security Fee" or whatever. I'm curious how well that would go over with customers, especially when they notice that some giant companies pay no fees.

You are using their shop front to sell your stuff. How are you going to market your product if Apple does not provide this?

Apple doesn't market my products, I do. Apple does offer paid search ads on top of its existing App Store fees.

 

[arlomedia]

Does Telegram know that without Apple, his app is nothing more than a bunch of useless code. These developers complain that Apple takes the 30 percent but they forget that if not for apple and Google, they would have NOTHING. Telegram would not exist if not for IOS and Android so I don’t think that 30 percent is not unreasonable.

You could say the same thing about iOS and Android being nothing if there were no apps. Platform creators used to offer tools and services to encourage app development simply because the availability of apps was important for the success of the platform. With the iOS App Store, Apple recast developers from partners in their success to a captive market for a new revenue stream.

 

[cocky jeremy]

After all of this whining, if I was Apple, that 2 weeks would very quickly turn into 4. When you try to bite that hand that feeds you, don't be surprised when they punch you in the mouth with it.

 

[AppleFan1998]

There’s only 500 experts…they have to wait. Apps should be reviewed thoroughly. Even for a reputable one.

 

[Unami]

Maybe it's because messaging is important and telegram has been less than open about it's encryption and data privacy in the past.

Or maybe it's because messaging is important to apple, and they have used their control over the app store to "handicap" competition before.

 

[Unami]

I used to use Telegram but deleted it when I could not stop messages from groups providing investment advice. Signal is rather disappointing, because it does not maintain information in the cloud that can be synchronised between devices. As a result each of my devices only contains those parts of message threads that were carried out on them. This is very inconvenient!

This happens to me on messages in OSX - only a handful of messages sync to all devices, for the rest it's either OSX or iOS. Signal, on the other hand, syncs between all my devices. Maybe there's some setting you missed.

 

[usr0]

Can't be sure why the delay happened but it was noticeable, the 8.8.1 update showed up today on my Mac but was published 06/30.

 

[gaximus]

So if you don’t like an app, it should be removed from the App Store. Got it.

OP didn't say it "should" be removed, just that they would be happy if it was.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

Epic vibes right there, something off in their new update and they're trying to pressure Apple.

 

[JosephAW]

It’s better to be delayed than to be banned like other social apps.

 

[sdf]

It's unclear why Apple is delaying Telegram's app update from reaching the millions of Telegram users.

Hiccups do happen in the queue sometimes. That can't be ruled out entirely.

But if it's been rejected the rejection notice may be incorrect, but it does exist. Telegram has probably seen it and has elected not to share it with the public.

 

[CubeHacker]

Smaller app developer here. fwiw I recently submitted a new game to the App Store, preparing myself for a multi-week wait. The initial release (which I submitted on the weekend) was approved within 2 hours, and all subsequent updates have taken less than 30 minutes to approve.

So in my experience, at least, I do think the app store approval process has improved tremendously over the last 5 years.

I’m curious how apple can completely play through an entire game in such a short amount of time to make sure that it adheres to a specified maturity rating (ie. has no nudity, profanity, etc) anywhere In its playtime.