Apple Threatens App Availability if Mention of Android Isn’t Removed

The Apple vs Google battle continues, it appears that Apple’s animosity toward Google has spilled over into Apple’s iPhone App Store approval process. Apple asked a developer to delete mention Google’s Android in an application’s description.

In an email to Tim Novikoff the developer of “Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab,” Apple wrote:

“it would be appropriate to remove ‘Finalist in Google’s Android Developer’s Challenge!’ from the application’s description.”

According to Apple the mention of being a finalist in Google’s Android Developers Challenge is:

“inappropriate or irrelevant information.”

Flash of Genius: SAT Vocab

However, they didn’t object to the developer mentioning his inclusions in Newsday or various iPhone design books. Novikoff said after removing the offending tag line he plans to contact Apple to see if there’s a way to mention his top 10 finish in the Android developer contest without offending Apple.

Apple also said that the edit was required to:

“avoid an interruption in the availability of the flash card application.”

I believe Apple’s attempt to obliterate Google from the minds of iPhone consumers is going to backfire. I personally use everything Google from G-Mail to Voice, to Docs and the Wave. As a consumer who is interested in purchasing an iPhone should it ever leave AT&T the inability to access my Google products would definitely prevent that from happening. Seriously what good would an iPhone be to me if I can’t stay connected to what’s happening in my world?

I think Apple needs to rethink this whole battle before it blows up their Apple tree!

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