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On The SDK's Restriction Of Location-Based Directions Apps

Submitted by Edward Kirk on July 1, 2008 - 10:09pm.
in

There's been some buzz going around about how Apple isn't allowing location-based applications to access the new A-GPS technology of the iPhone 3G, which TomTom found out the hard way when it turned out that their software would violate the SDK agreement. However, there does seem to be a method to Apple's madness.

The most likely motive for Apple's decision not to allow most applications seems to be liability. Quite frankly, they don't want someone getting hurt because of a location-aware app. The major points of restrictions in clauses 3.3.7 through 3.3.9 of the license agreement are to prevent applications from the following:

  • violating consumer privacy with location data
  • enabling stalkers
  • routing people or vehicles incorrectly (in case for some reason the directions aren't accurate)
  • doing anything else illegal with location info that Apple didn't think of

However, it is possible that a company like TomTom could make a seperate arrangement with Apple if they were to take full liability for their software.

[via Seeking Alpha]

Or could it be....

Submitted by Rossifreak on July 1, 2008 - 10:28pm.
That AT&T doesn't want Apple treading on it Navigator service. "AT&T Navigator provides spoken turn by turn GPS driving directions with automatic reroute, full color maps, and real time traffic alerts all on your device."

Submitted by xxx on July 1, 2008 - 10:33pm.
Bummer.

Wasn't there news on here that Tom Tom already had an app created for the 3g? I don't believe it said anything about liability tho.


Only time will tell.....

Their current GPS software is not GPS

Submitted by exbusfish on July 2, 2008 - 7:59am.
If you look at the iPhone 2.0 Mapping application, it can hardly be called a gps app. My thought is that they are encouraging TomTom and others to offer true GPS through a separate arrangement (not SDK terms bound). This can also lead to new innovations that take advantage of other aspects of integration to the OS (click on a waypoint to dial or find reviews).