It seems that Apple may be blocking WordPress from submitting updates and bug fixes for its own application. The reason for this is particularly strange.
Matt Mullenweg, one of the founders of WordPress, reported today that the company is unable to provide updates to the WordPress app on iOS publish, because Apple is said to have blocked it. The reasoning behind this seems particularly interesting. According to the developer, Apple requires WordPress to support in-app purchases for .com plans.
A heads up on why @WordPressiOS updates were missing... we were banned from the App Store. In order to start shipping updates and bug fixes again, we had to commit to supporting in-app purchases for .com plans.
Companies demand reduction of App Store commission
Mullenweg discussed the issue in detail via Twitter and even asked for feedback from the Twitter community. The strange thing about all this is that the WordPress iOS application is open source and only allows users to create a WordPress-hosted website for free. Purchasing domains through the app is not provided at all. Author and founder of Stratechery – Ben Thompson – commented on the issue:
I'm admittedly confused as to why Apple is denying me open source application updates for my open source website. Also, I thought Apple stopped holding bug updates "hostage"?
Apple is currently involved in a legal dispute with Epic Games over Apple's control of the App Store, which Epic says represents an unfair monopoly. In addition to Epic, numerous other app providers have now spoken out, demanding a reduction in the App Store commission. It is not yet known whether this is a misunderstanding on Apple's part with regard to WordPress. The fact is - the whole thing comes at a very inopportune time. (Photo by bigtunaonline / Bigstockphoto)
