We lately reported that App Retailer Evaluation rejected HEY Calendar, a brand new app from Basecamp, for a similar purpose that led to HEY E mail being rejected from the App Retailer in 2020. This time, to get HEY Calendar permitted by Apple, Basecamp has added an sudden new function to the app moderately than altering the way it works.
The dispute between Basecamp and Apple
To recap the entire story, Basecamp’s HEY E mail was rejected by Apple in 2020 for not letting customers subscribe to the service utilizing the iOS app. As a substitute, customers had been requested to subscribe by means of the corporate’s web site, in order that Basecamp wouldn’t must pay the 30% charge to Apple.
In keeping with Apple, HEY Mail violated the App Retailer pointers as a result of it put the complete app below a paywall, because it didn’t have any free options. On the time, even Apple Fellow Phil Schiller recommended Basecamp add some fundamental free options or a trial interval to get the app permitted – and that’s precisely what the corporate did.
After a lot dialogue, Basecamp launched an replace to HEY Mail with a free 14-day trial interval, which ended up being permitted by Apple. After the trial interval is over, customers can buy a license by means of the HEY web site.
HEY Calendar will get App Retailer approval
A variety of issues have occurred since then. Apple now permits “reader” apps to offer exterior hyperlinks for patrons to enroll and handle their accounts outdoors the App Retailer system. Nevertheless, apps nonetheless can’t be paywalled in the event that they don’t provide free fundamental options or in-app purchases.
However Basecamp determined to check the bounds once more by doing the identical factor as earlier than. The brand new HEY Calendar app was rejected by Apple for not providing any free options and prompting customers to subscribe by means of HEY’s web site. As a substitute of implementing a free trial interval just like HEY E mail, the corporate did one thing a bit extra provocative.
The app has been up to date with a calendar of Apple occasions for individuals who don’t have a HEY subscription. That’s proper. The free function is actually a preview of how HEY Calendar works, however exhibiting previous Apple particular occasions. And to our shock, Apple permitted the app after the replace, which is now accessible on the App Retailer.
What a reduction! We’ve spent an entire yr getting the HEY Calendar prepared. Hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in funding. And, as unhappy because it sounds, all of it hinges on Apple. About 85% of paying prospects for HEY use Macs and iPhones, so if Apple denied us the power to distribute our app, we’d be lifeless.
David Hansson, Basecamp co-founder
9to5Mac’s Take
There are two methods of this story. Basecamp clearly is aware of the App Retailer pointers and the way all the pieces works. They may have designed the app in accordance with the rules from the start. On Apple’s aspect, they gave Basecamp precisely what the corporate wished.
By rejecting one other HEY app, the corporate not solely attracts extra dangerous publicity, but additionally provides gasoline to the hearth relating to antitrust investigations towards the App Retailer. As John Gruber stated, Apple ought to have let it go and permitted the app, contemplating all the pieces that has occurred with HEY E mail prior to now.
Additionally, DHH says the thought so as to add Apple historical past dates was “impressed” by Stephen Hackett, who has launched three completely different Apple Historical past Calendars.
“It’s an actual bummer to really feel like I’ve been ripped off by a a lot greater firm, seeing them pitch one thing I’ve labored onerous on as a free function of their app. There’s some irony there,” Stephen says on 512 Pixels.
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