iPhone Application Restrictions

Apple's restrictions on iPhone applications affect developers, marketers and users.

While the iPhone development platform and marketplace are ideal for developing and launching killer iPhone apps, some restrictions exist that Apple has put in place that all developers, marketers as well as users need to be aware of.

Developers

iPhone applications have been restricted to only write data in their designated areas. This means that apps cannot access other applications' data. This has the advantage of ensuring that applications remain stable, though some developers would argue against that.

Users

iPhone applications can only run one at a time. That means that you cannot have an application running in the background doing stuff while you use another application. When a user switches to another application, the application that was running first quits.

Marketers

Apple controls strictly what is on the iPhone marketplace and if you want to market your app, you need to be registered. All apps should be signed and any app that has been revoked cannot be run anywhere else. New releases of iPhone OS also tend to be backward incompatible with earlier versions.

References

• TechCrunch: iPhone SDK and Restrictions

Resources

• The Washington Post: Apple Store Restrictions