On July 11, 2008, 500 apps were available and there were zero downloads. On July 14 of the same year, 10 million downloads were made out of the 800 available applications. On September 28, 2009, there are 85,000 applications available with 2 billion downloads and counting. That’s how big Apple’s App Store has become over the years.

Basically, the App Store is a service for iPhone and iPod Touch users where you can browse and download applications which are available for free or for a minimal cost. The applications increase the functionality of your mobile phone even more – by introducing apps for cooks, those who want to keep updated with the latest news, fitness, and music.

The Introduction of the App Store Resource Centre

Perhaps even Apple CEO Steve Jobs did not expect the App Store to be as successful and popular as it is today. However, just because a particular business venture has proven to be successful does not mean that it is safe from controversies.

Just recently, the App Store Resource Centre was launched with an aim to assist developers in submitting and managing applications once they are in the App Store. A lot of people are saying that Apple’s move was intended to placate the not-so-satisfied application developers on how the App Store is being run. The submission and approval process are the ones being questioned, and a new section supposedly addresses questions and offers guidance to developers.

But is the App Store Resource Centre enough or even useful for the developers themselves? One developer says that the resource centre is merely a collection of documents which were already out, just condensed into one place. A few other developers echo the sentiment, saying that the App Resource Centre is virtually useless.

Apparently, what developers would like to see is a simple, straightforward list of criteria on the different scenarios regarding the issues which are more important to them. For example, an overview of the approval process and why a particular application was rejected is much better than a collection of I-already-know-that facts.

The same thing holds true for developers who want to learn why an application gets accepted rather than how long it takes for the approval process to be completed. In the same vein, one more important aspect that developers would like to know is the status of their applications submission. Is it already in the works, is there a similar application which may have been submitted ahead of mine, and similar questions that they have in mind.

All in all, it seems as if the App Store Resource Centre is merely a lame stunt aimed at taking some of the heat off the company’s approval and rejection process of submitted applications. There are still frustrated developers out there who just cannot seem to understand how the approval process actually goes – and if the company thinks that the App Store Resource Centre will be enough to placate them, they might just have another think coming.

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