Google has admitted that its new mobile iPhone application violates the terms of Apple’s iPhone SDK. As reported earlier, the new voice search featured mobile app referenced undocumented APIs in order to access the iPhone’s proximity sensor. This capability allows the screen to be dimmed when the user holds the phone near the face.
Under the terms and conditions of the iPhone SDK, developers are required to only use APIs provided in the developer’s kit. Google violated the SDK guidelines further by linking to Private Frameworks. The spokesperson who confirmed the violation added that this was done on the basis of pushing “innovative and useful applications” to consumers.
As you may recall, the way Google introduced and promoted the new feature might have lead Apple to close-one-eye when approving the application. The feature was first introduced via a blog post with an accompanying video, indicating that the application would be available on November 14 in the App Store. However, the application did not materialize throughout the weekend, which later sparked rumors indicating that Apple might be the one “delaying” the application. The application finally arrived on the App Store on November 18.
Apple spokespersons are not available for comment when this report hit the streets.
