The good iPhone website Apple iPhone Apps.com has an interesting article on Apple's ability to reject an app from the app store without explicitly rejecting it -- something that the site calls a "pocket rejection" (much like a pocket veto whereby the President can sometimes indirectly veto a bill). The website developed an app that would notify the user when the price of other iPhone apps dropped -- something that happens all the time and can be difficult to track. They submitted the app to Apple several months ago, and even developed a video commercial for it ... and then just waited. After several months of waiting, it would appear that Apple is not approving the app, and yet Apple has failed to advise that it is rejecting the app.
Many other iPhone developers have posted similar stories. Even if Apple has a good reason to not approve an app, it seems unfair to keep a developer in limbo for such a long period of time.
[UPDATE on 3/10/09: Dan Moren of Macworld has an interesting editorial on the problems with Apple's app approval process.]
[UPDATE on 3/13/09: Today, Apple finally approved the BarginBin app submitted long ago by Apple iPhone Apps.com. It's a happy ending for this particular story, but the fact remains that many developers are pleading with Apple for more communication during the app review process.]
