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

[MacRumors]

Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, is lashing out against Apple over the company's "obscure" App Store review process that is delaying Telegram from releasing an update to its app that will "revolutionize how people express themselves in messaging."

In his Telegram channel, Durov says that an update to Telegram for iOS that will change how people communicate has been stuck in Apple's App Store review process for over two weeks, with no communication from the company over why or when it will be approved. Durov points out that if an app as popular as Telegram receives this treatment, one can "imagine the difficulties experienced by smaller app developers."

For example, our upcoming update – which is about to revolutionize how people express themselves in messaging – has been stuck in Apple's "review" for two weeks, without explanation or any feedback provided by Apple.

If Telegram, one of the top 10 most popular apps globally, is receiving this treatment, one can only imagine the difficulties experienced by smaller app developers. It's not just demoralizing: it causes direct financial losses to hundred of thousands of mobile apps globally.

Durov, a vocal critic of Apple and its App Store in the past, points out the controversial "Apple tax," which gives Apple a 30% cut of certain in-app purchases from eligible apps that make over $1 million annually. Durov calls Apple's behavior "abusive" and says that damage inflicted by the company "can't be undone."

This harm goes on top of the 30% tax Apple and Google take from app developers – which, according to them, is supposed to pay for the resources needed to review apps. The regulators in the EU and elsewhere are slowly starting to look into these abusive practices. But the economic damage that has already been inflicted by Apple on the tech industry won't be undone.

It's unclear why Apple is delaying Telegram's app update from reaching the millions of Telegram users. Most apps are typically reviewed fairly quickly, so the long wait in this instance is particularly interesting. Telegram is one of the most popular messaging services on the App Store, competing with the likes of WhatsApp, Instagram, Signal, and Apple's iMessage service.

On its website, Apple says, "every week, over 500 dedicated experts around the world review over 100K apps," adding that over 1 million submissions are rejected.

Update: Telegram's update has since been approved on the App Store, with the exception of new animated versions of Apple's emoji called Telemoji that Telegram had planned to release. Apple's App Store Review Guidelines do not allow apps to replicate Apple's emoji.

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

 

[RouterCFW]

revolutionize how people express themselves in messaging 🥱 probably just gonna make a new feature where you can report messages 😂

 

[boak]

Do popular apps get priority in the review process?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Telegram CEO needs to wait, get in line and wait for his turn.

 

[6787872]

time to regulate apple and break it up.

Do popular apps get priority in the review process?

yeah. and they get to break the rules too.

 

[randyhudson]

Imagine needing $100 billion dollars per year to pay the salary of 500 "experts". Where can I apply for this job where I make $200M/yr?

 

[autrefois]

Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, is lashing out against Apple over the company's "obscure" App Store review process that is delaying Telegram from releasing an update to its app that will "revolutionize how people express themselves in messaging."

Apple is standing in the way of revolution! 😂

But on a serious note, I think Apple should generally take *more* time to review apps and not less, considering some of the junk apps that slip through — although this is a well-known app and developer, and I strongly doubt in this case that the review of the app itself is what’s holding things up.

 

[tomnavratil]

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.

 

[BootsWalking]

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

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Another reason why we need app distribution competition on iOS. There's a reason the Mac App Store has pretty much been abandoned since Apple pulls that crap there so developers ignore it entirely.

Edit: Dislike me all you want but you know I'm right. Do you really think developers would be using the iOS App Store if they had the choice? The Mac App Store is proof of that since macOS has miles better options for app distribution than that draconian storefront. Like it or not, competition's gonna have to come since the Digital Markets Act is law now in Europe.

 

[CheesePuff]

Telegram CEO needs to wait, get in line and wait for his turn.

App Store reviews are down to 1-2 days for approval now and has been for some time (at least a couple years), so there is clearly something else going on here and they have no view or feedback from Apple into what it is

 

[Freida]

I can see that the app has got something that maybe Apple wants to introduce too (perhaps) and they are now debating how to prevent telegram releasing it? Hehe

 

[satchmo]

He should admit it’s popularity is partly due to it’s presence in the App Store.

Sorry, you can’t have it both ways and there’s no free lunch.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

I can see that the app has got something that maybe Apple wants to introduce too (perhaps) and they are now debating how to prevent telegram releasing it? Hehe

Just like what happened with FlickType. They got Watch App Store approval just for it to get revoked, and then a month later the app got Sherlocked in the Apple Watch Series 7. I can't wait for the trial.

 

[cmcbhi]

Personally, I'd be happy if Telegram were removed from a. App Stores.

 

[cambric]

Telegram keep releasing new gimmicks but they still can’t bother to implement a proper iOS 13+ dark mode that can switch in the background??

 

[Spock]

Just like what happened with FlickType. They got Watch App Store approval just for it to get revoked, and then a month later the app got Sherlocked in the Apple Watch Series 7. I can't wait for the trial.

That was pretty messed up but Apple wont have to pay anything meaningful if they lose in court. Even if they do, the money in Tim Cooks couch cushions will cover it.

 

[singularity0993]

Apple playing both the referee and the player. This can never be good news.

 

[IlluminatedSage]

If anything telegrams Chief is using this as a marketing time. Touting “great new feature”. Its just for attention and to drum up more users. I’m sure the update will come soon, only winner here is the extra marketing boost this look at us approach is. Don’t blame them for trying this angle

 

[vercordio]

Durov points out that if an app as popular as Telegram receives this treatment, one can "imagine the difficulties experienced by smaller app developers."

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.

 

[JCCL]

Personally, I'd be happy if Telegram were removed from a. App Stores.

Yeah - I don't like an App, so no one shall have it! Weird attitude being happy and wishing that something others enjoy is taken away from them, even if you don't enjoy it yourself. I would never download Tik Tok on my phone, but others seem to enjoy for reasons I will never understand, so why would I want that taken away? I just ignore it.

 

[rp100]

“Apple is delaying the release of our revolutionary new features!”

Translation:
“Marketing and finance agreed that a negative presser about Apple would be the cheapest method to generate interest and new sign-ups.”

 

[krspkbl]

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.

 

[jlc1978]

Dislike me all you want but you know I'm right. Do you really think developers would be using the iOS App Store if they had the choice? The Mac App Store is proof of that since macOS has miles better options for app distribution than that draconian storefront.

I suspect many developers, once they discover they reach a small fraction of the user base, pay as much and have to deal with taxes, payment issues, etc. they will stay on the App Store. I also suspect Apple will find new ways to makeup for any lost revenue from developers should they take a noticeable revenue hit. For example, they could switch to a licensing fee based on installed base for signing apps; or a percentage of revenue.

Like it or not, competition's gonna have to come since the Digital Markets Act is law now in Europe.

Proposed law, last I saw.

 

[HappyDude20]

This really is ridiculous.

This is FlickType all over again.

Apple, this is shady and you guys suck.