Promotions, direct marketing not allowed for notifications

Mar 22, 2018 10:35 GMT  ·  By

Verizon has reportedly started sending push notifications to customers using iPhones and its My Verizon app to recommend an upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy S9.

“Samsung Galaxy S9 is here! Buy now through the app,” the notification reads, as you can see in the screenshot attached to the article. It’s not yet clear who exactly gets this notification, but according to users who turned to Twitter to report it, iPhone owners are the most likely targets, no matter the model they are currently using.

While at first glance it’s somehow funny to see Verizon trying to convert iPhone users, there’s a bigger problem with these push notifications.

Apple itself says in the developer documentation for iOS apps that using notifications for advertising is forbidden and could trigger the removal of the app from the App Store.

“Push Notifications must not be required for the app to function, and should not be used for advertising, promotions, or direct marketing purposes or to send sensitive personal or confidential information,” Apple explains.

Apple tight-lipped on this practice

And while it’s not known how come a company the size of Verizon is allowed to send push notifications for direct marketing, this approach has already triggered a wave of criticism from developers coding for iOS.

As Pocketnow notes, some claim that Apple ignores Verizon’s practice simply because it’s one of its top partners, but otherwise enforces absolutely all rules on smaller developers.

“I’ve tweeted @Apple and @verizon about this multiple times. They require notifications to use their data-view widget. Such a bulls**t practice. @Apple clearly doesn’t care enough to enforce their rules for certain players, but don’t put a calculator in your widget or REJECTED,” iOS developer Nick Kohrn tweeted.

It’ll be interesting to hear what Apple has to say about Verizon’s practice, though judging from the company’s modus operandi, there’s a very little chance the firm is going to say a single word about it.