Yesterday, we noted that Apple has again revised its developer agreement, and among the changes were adjustments to its rules on analytics data collection. The changes appear to allow applications to send data back to analytics companies to assist in advertising and other efforts, with the limitation that analytics companies receiving data must be "independent" and not owned by or affiliated with a developer of mobile platforms or devices. The limitation would appear to prohibit Google-owned AdMob from participating in analytics data collection on the iPhone.
AdMob founder and CEO Omar Hamoui today responded on the company's blog, acknowledging that the terms as written would prohibit developers from using AdMob and Google advertising products on the iPhone.
This change threatens to decrease - or even eliminate - revenue that helps to support tens of thousands of developers. The terms hurt both large and small developers by severely limiting their choice of how best to make money. And because advertising funds a huge number of free and low cost apps, these terms are bad for consumers as well.
Let's be clear. This change is not in the best interests of users or developers. In the history of technology and innovation, it's clear that competition delivers the best outcome. Artificial barriers to competition hurt users and developers and, in the long run, stall technological progress.
Hamoui reports that AdMob will be speaking to Apple about its concerns over the impact of the change in terms as the advertising company looks to continue working with developers on a broad variety of platforms.
