Many people hear about the App Store approval but most don’t quite understand the process that developers have to go through.
If a developer / company writes an application or game and want to start selling it for the iPhone or iPod Touch, they have to submit their application or game to Apple. The app approval process could take up to 4 weeks although this has recently been reduced to about 2-2.5 weeks as of the date of posting this.
If for any reason Apple decide that your application or game fails in any way, they will reject the application. If you want to sell it, you have to modify or fix whatever Apple have a problem with, then re-submit again. That resubmission process again can take 2-2.5 weeks from start to finish. Once approval is given by Apple, your application or game goes on sale.
Apple can reject for a number of reasons. e.g.
It’s a shame that application and games developers have to go through these hoops to get their applications and games submitted for sale, but on the flip side of the coin it also in theory makes the application stability / censoring better.
You forgot:
8. Steve got out of bed on the wrong side that morning.
By: DrDark on September 30, 2009
at 1:29 am
My latest app was submitted on September 16, 2009. It is now October 18, 2009 and I have yet to hear a word from Apple regarding the approval status of this app.
Two to two and a half weeks is VERY generous. I have yet to speak with anyone who has had an app complete the approval process (either approved or rejected) in that small of a time frame. From all I can gather the approval process is currently taking closer to 6 weeks.
By: Frustrated on October 19, 2009
at 12:32 am
From what I’ve seen with apps being submitted it appears that the new initial app process is a more vigorous test and can take 4-6 weeks, but many of the updates to an existing app are being approved in 2-3 weeks. I’m not sure what difference there is in checking updates vs a new app from an Apple perspective, but it seems to be a lot quicker for updates.
By: Dave Burrows on October 19, 2009
at 4:01 am