The new year was supposed to start with a brand new calendar app. However, approximately 72 hours after the premium email service Hey was announced; Latest features — Integrated Calendar — Co-founder David Heinemeyer Hanson received some unwelcome news from Apple. The idea was that Apple would deny a standalone iOS app for Hey Calendar because paying users couldn’t do anything when they opened the app.
New users cannot sign up for Hey Calendar directly on the app. At Basecamp, the company behind Hey, users first sign up through a browser. Apple’s App Store rules require most paid services to offer users the ability to pay and sign up through their apps, guaranteeing the company up to a 30% discount. . This controversial rule has many gray areas and carve-outs (i.e. reader apps like Spotify and Kindle are exempt) and is the subject of antitrust battles in multiple countries.
However, as detailed by Hanson, on X and after that blog post, he found Apple’s refusal insulting for another reason. Nearly four years ago, the company rejected the original iOS app for his Hey email service. exactly the same reason. “I received a call from Apple saying they are rejecting the HEY Calendar app (in its current form) from the App Store. Same bullying tactic as last time: Subtle rejection of calls to people who only have first names. , gently letting you know it’s your wallet or your kneecap.“ I have written Posted by Hanson on X.
In fact, the outcome of the 2020 fight was in Haye’s favor. After many days, back and forth Between Apple’s App Store Review Board and Basecamp, the Hey team agreed that: pretty creative solution It was proposed by Apple executive Phil Schiller. Hey he plans to offer a free option for the iOS app and allow new users to sign up directly. However, a slight twist was proposed for this email service. Users who signed up via the iOS app were given a free, temporarily randomized email address valid for 14 days. Then you had to pay to upgrade. Currently, Hey Mail users can only pay for their accounts through their browser.
In response to the Hey uproar, Apple changed its App Store rules to ban free companion apps to certain types of paid web services. do not have An in-app payment mechanism is required. But as Hanson notes in his X, his Calendar app is not listed on the list of services Apple currently exempts. This includes VOIP, cloud storage, web hosting, and of course email.
After spending 19 days reviewing the application and missing its long-planned January 2 release date, Apple rejected the standalone free companion app „on the grounds that it would do nothing.“ This is because users must log in with an existing account to use this feature. ” I have written Mr. Hanson’s blog post.
as hansung detail In a post on X, Hay said he would oppose Apple’s decision, but did not specify what route Apple would take. The Verge Both Hey and Apple have been contacted for comment.