Apple is pushing the iOS developers over the edge by removing apps related to emoticons (those characters we use while messaging) from the iTunes App Store. The reason to remove these apps may seem silly at first, but Apple believes these apps do not provide any value to their users.
An iOS developer forwarded the email message he received from Apple to TechCrunch, which says “iOS 6 now provides Emoji support to all users” and the message further states that “Apps that are not very useful, are simply web sites bundled as apps, or do not provide any lasting entertainment value may be rejected”
Emoticons (also called as emoji and smileys) usually used in text messages and instant messengers are popular among teenagers. These emoticons are probably the best way to put your feelings out during a text-based conversation.
Apple started offering emoticons within the keyboard only in the new iOS 6.0 which was launched two months ago, but some of the emoji apps have been up since over a year or two.
Not all the emoji-related apps have been removed from the App Store. There are hundreds of apps still breathing freely, but there time may soon come to an end, as Techcrunch states that “emoji app removals could still be underway.”
Here is the complete email received by the iOS app developer:
Hello [redacted],
We are writing to let you know your app, [redacted], has been removed from the App Store because it is no longer needed to unlock Emoji.
Since iOS 6 now provides Emoji support to all users, your app is no longer in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines
2.12 Apps that are not very useful, are simply web sites bundled as apps, or do not provide any lasting entertainment value may be rejected
If you have questions about the removal of your application, please contact App Review at appreview@apple.com. Please include the App ID and the name of your application in your email.
Thank you and best regards,
App Review
Couple of tweets from iOS developers:
It looks like Apple is preparing to cull all the emoji apps from the App Store, on the grounds that iOS 6 has that functionality built in.
Warning, new reason to get your app taken off the store: mention “emoji.”
Via Techcrunch
