iPhone developers unable to renew contracts

Developers who want to add applications to the iPhone need a contract, and the first ones signed last year are about to expire.

(Credit: CNET)

Apple developers are having a tough time renewing their iPhone development licenses, according to reports.

AppleInsider reported last week that as the one-year contracts signed by iPhone developers begin to expire, developers are starting to wonder if they'll be able to continue their development after the end of March without an option to renew the contracts. The contracts are needed as part of the iPhone Developer Program in order to have iPhone applications listed in the App Store.

Ars Technica's Erica Sadun, a prolific iPhone developer, is having similar problems. She attempted to renew her contract on Friday only to be told that Apple had yet to implement a process for doing so.

One year after Apple first kicked off iPhone development, the astounding growth of the App Store continues: Apple now has more than 25,000 applications listed, adding nearly 10,000 since January. The company has had trouble keeping up with that growth over the year, but usually manages to iron out the kinks and keep its developers happy.

[gerrrg]

Pssst. Move to Android.

[opiapr]

One year and still haven't implemented a process WOW. @ gerrrg I also moved to Android I like an open platform a lot more than a close one...

[Hep Cat]

Wow, look at all the iPhone developers posting here all of the sudden....

[KHannemann]

SOMEBODY at Apple needs to step up and be the DECISION MAKER, dammit. The whole App Store arrangement, including the review and approval of apps, and the approval and renewal of developer contracts, must be streamlined, and quickly.

[jlopezcnet]

Yeah sure, I really want "open"... Does this mean that developers can find it impossible to program with ever changing hardware -and- whatever they end up selling is crap that costs way too much money and lacks support. This is what is killing Windows Mobile/CE.

One other possibility is malware. These apps are all potentially web based and risk exposing users to mobile malware. If anyone is allowed to develop, they have the potential of becoming malicious vendors. This business model will kill Android if Google is not too careful, otherwise they risk the hardware pandemonium Windows Mobile is currently suffering.

Closed can sometimes work - with the exception of Palm... they were killed when they went "open" and have never been able to recover..

[bhushan bhaagii]

What gives?
One bad news item in a day is bad enough. But two?
You have the story of the layoffs (denied officially, but confirmed
unofficially). And now this one.
What's up at Apple? Is any one minding the store,
or are they all adrift, waiting for God-Steve Jobs
to come back?

[ekivemark]

Apple can solve this at a stroke. When MobileMe was launched and tanked they extended everybodies contracts as recompense. All Apple has to do is add 3-12 months to every developer contract and they push the problem off until they can sort out the process.

I can't see them switching off developers enmasse.

[Olu070]

Can't say I agree with the "closed" platform, but it's working. This nonsense about switching to Android makes no sense until it's successful. When that day approaches then you can say that their "open" platform works.

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