Apple has taken steps to block websites selling access to iOS 6 beta to non authorized users. It seems that Apple has decided to end a lucrative business for some developers marketing their access to the iOS beta platforms. Through the unique identification number, UDID, each one hundred iPhone developer access to test versions of IOS 6 . Because a developer’s license about a hundred dollars, a developer makes about $900 in profits through the slots at ten dollars each to sell. If the slots are open such sites a new developer account. The largest of these sites, UDIDactivation.com would result in a week 2,300 people have got the ability to test the iOS 6 beta which is intended for developers.
The confidentiality of users’ private data is a sensitive issue in the small web world. And increasingly, the debate is available on mobile. The decision by Apple to be more strict with respect to applications using the UDID, a “Unique Device Identifier” that identifies each iPhone and iPad, and agitates the Web. Rumors are indeed state of massive releases of applications in recent days.
“Several applications have in fact been rejected because they were using the UDID, but it is known what aspect of this use was singled out” analysis Ouriel Ohayon, founder of Appsfire. An application like Tweetbot saw its update rejected because it did not opt-in on the UDID while others still, they, to be validated. but this policy tightening Apple could have a significant impact on the mobile ecosystem that relies heavily on this data collection.
If developers have to pay $99 for a annual membership in order to access Apple developer’s program, then they receive a valid username UDID for configuring up to 100 iOS mobile devices.
“The UDID allows developers to compile data on the use of an application, to improve its functioning, confirms OurielOhayon. It also allows advertising agencies to track the effectiveness of their advertisements, the ‘capper ‘or target them based on user behavior, “said Ouriel Ohayon. Suffice to say that the business model of mobile applications would be severely challenged.
Some developers have begun to monetize the number of licenses by reselling the identifier UDID and allowing non-developers to access these unfinished versions of IOS 6, the Cupertino has filed a complaint alleging a use of these identifiers in breach of contract validated by developers to gain access.
Proof of the growing awareness of the actors, some alternatives are beginning to emerge. Some are limited, like the use of cookies, often erased by users, or the technique of “fingerprinting” which is to “identify” by accumulating certain information such as IP address or the applications used, a method inevitably unreliable. Others are uncertain in the long term, such as using the Mac address of the Wi-Fi chip, which for Ouriel Ohayon, “exposes the person using the same problems of use of personal data that the UDID” . Sooner or later, Apple is likely to apply the same stringent conditions. And it only applies to Wi-Fi …
According to MacStories , an article published by WIRED a month ago pointed out the operation of several of these sites offering IOS 6 beta activations, which is is causing Apple to react to this issue, the sites mentioned being specifically targeted. The company had already closed the accounts of some developers previously but had not yet attacked the sites developers operating multiple accounts for the sole purpose to sell access rights, and that seems to be a rather lucrative business. Apple has also intervened to block direct access to the betas of Mac OS X side of computers. This should not prevent these sites to be reborn under other names and other forms, and may lead Apple to review conditions of access to its developer program and control modes
Some boards have developed their own solution, as the publisher of mobile social games, OpenFeint, which launched its own identification system. Appsfire an initiative intended to further, by proposing a solution, open source, called OpenUDID . “OpenUDID is now powered by 400 developers, including the large structures, said Ouriel Ohayon. Our system identifies the device, it operates under iOS, Mac or Android.” The advertising comes Mopub and publicly declare that it would use this solution. An announcement will be followed by two or three more in the coming days. Difficult to say at this stage whether this project will succeed in establishing itself as the standard. The important thing is not there to Ouriel Ohayon who hopes above all to see a viable alternative to emerge. “If it is not OpenUDID, it will be another solution,” he concluded.
