According to Mugunth Kumar, the developer of SG BBOM, SingTel met with him today and told him that they did not want a third party app to provide information about an iPhone user's data consumption. SingTel proposed that he make his app part of SingTel's App Zone instead. SingTel App Zone is SingTel's attempt to run a local app store to host apps for smartphones. Kumar declined because he disagreed with the App Zone's policies.
At the meeting, Kumar was told that if he did not pull SG BBOM from the App Store, SingTel would ask Apple to do so. “If Apple removes the app, subsequent approvals of my future apps would be delayed, so I thought I would remove it instead," says Kumar.
Although he describes the incident as “quite unpleasant”, he is not overly upset. “BBOM is something which I did in 5 hours so I'm not very bothered about it." The incident did have an impact on him though. "The way SingTel spoke to me made me change the way I look at the local market," he says.
This incident also explains why the app has not been working recently. SingTel had been unhappy with SG BBOM so it prevented the app from accessing the data needed.
SG BBOM works by providing an iPhone interface to a service that SingTel offers via its website. The app also estimates how much data a user has left for the remaining billing cycle, something that SingTel's website does not do.
Apart from SG BBOM, Kumar also developed StationAlarm SG, an app that helps sleeping MRT passengers wake up before reaching their station.
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16 comments:
I think it's reasonable for SingTel to request for removal of that app from the App Store. It doesn't have anything to do with "uncomfortable" local market.
Unless if the app is distributed under SingTel's name. Because it's "indirectly" using the data information provided by SingTel.
This case would be different if it's distributed "not" through App Store, which "unofficially" enables any iPhone user to view the data consumption for any operator.
That would not be tied to SingTel, so it's better that way. It might worth it to see the potential of selling that app through Cydia.
Thats a pity. The telecom does notprovide a comprehensive service for its iPhone users. So if a user was good enough to provide a "Free" app, then they should consider it a bonus. Although i agree the data belongs to Singtel, Mugunth was not making a profit in any way, neither was he selling it using Singtel's brand name. Its a small application that doesnt really do any harm to Singtel, so i dont see why the high handed approach. Bad luck Mugunth, but thanks for the effort in tryign to fill in the gap.
@Jesse,
Did SBS pull apps like tranSGuide or SG Transport from AppStore?
Free apps like this "eat" their iris SMS revenue for both SBS and telcos.
Well you can also say the same for VoIP over 3G apps.
VoIP doesn't make any profit if it's only done for internet communications (with no gateway to traditional phone service).
Still it's only allowable for WiFi.
It's Singtel's policy.
It may not be fair for you. But it's what they want.
You should distribute this app not using "SG", for example name it as "iDataUsage", so it could be used by other iPhone users.
But, I don't know how that will be done technically for non Singtel operator.
I'd be interested to know why SingTel would consider the app acceptable if it became part of their App Zone. Isn't it either acceptable to them or not?
If they were just trying to strong arm Mugunth into App Zone participation then good on him for resisting.
Jesse - how does pulling the app improve things for SingTel or their customers? If it doesn't then I'd say their actions have been both unreasonable and dumb.
@Jesse, SG is not SingTel. Search for SG on AppStore, u will find, Locacity SG, TrafficCam SG, SG TOTO, SG Mahjong, SG 4D, SG Transport and many other Singapore Local apps.
SG is more commonly expanded as Singapore (including the .sg TLD).
I think there's no point in me commenting to the post, if I agree 100% on opinions in the post :-).
I never said "SG" is SingTel, but is there any official network operator for the iPhone besides SingTel ? No.
I say to remove SG from the app name and also "SingTel" specific things (if there's any), so you won't get into this kind of problem with SingTel, if you still do, then you can't blame only on SingTel.
AT&T would never agree on this thing. AT&T is the most hated telco operator for iPhone users.
I never said "reasonable" for SingTel as "reasonable" for their customers. You have to differ between "reasonable" and the best thing for society.
If SingTel's mission is to improve customer's life. Then, why don't they remove the iPhone exclusivity contract with Apple ?
I mentioned a solution for his problem, all you guys did just flaming me.
"I never said "SG" is SingTel, but is there any official network operator for the iPhone besides SingTel ? No."
This should be is there any official network operator in SG for iPhone besides SingTel?
I hope I don't make more mistakes for you guys. Good luck.
I know a telco operator (if I'm not mistaken, it's in Findland).
They are very fair regarding iPhone policies. They would give you the non-contract iPhone, with a reasonable price. I don't know how much is it to buy non-contract iPhone in sg.
You might also want to take a look at Hongkong, no contract at all.
So it's "reasonable" that most service providers are evil. Developer never wins against any company. I experienced that first hand.
A story of developer got owned by the dark red side
That's sad indeed.
Just curious, what part of the "AppZone" did you not agree with? May help others considering using "AppZone" for app distribution.
would like to know why did you not join the SingTel App Zone.
Hi guys
I believe Kumar can't go into details about why he did not put his App into SingTel's App Zone because of the NDA.
However, looking at what we know about the App Zone, developers are not paid for their efforts. Instead, they get a cut of the profits. Developers get 40 percent of the sales revenue (Apple takes its usual 30 percent while SingTel takes another 30 percent).
This means that financially, it only makes sense to tie up with SingTel if the volume is going to be big because as a developer, you only get 40 percent of total revenue.
Since SingTel told Kumar that they did not want a third-party app providing the service, it stands to reason that they wanted Kumar to not just make his app part of the App Zone but also that it should be rebranded as a SingTel app, rather than as Kumar's app.
In addition, since SingTel provides this service for free via its website, I'm pretty sure that it would not be able to sell this branded app.
If these assumptions are correct, it means that:
1. SingTel wanted Kumar to do additional work on the app to rebrand it as a SingTel app
2. The app would be available for free (as it was previously)
3. And Kumar would not be paid for his efforts because it is part of a revenue-sharing deal with SingTel App Zone.
Thus Kumar would be required to do additional work on his app for free (and with no upside because 40 percent of 0 is 0) just to make SingTel happy. Not a great deal.
@Jimmy
Very informative indeed. What you said makes alot of sense. Thanks!
I think for the rev share portion. don't think singtel will be so dumb to include Kumar's app under the rev share while offering it for free.
But then again, instead of getting users to pay for the app (since it is free), SingTel may engage its ads and pay out to Kumar based on the ad revenue generated. Think there's a need to have a more open mindset towards Singtel's stand.
As part of the representation, it is an implied impression that Kumar is 'representing' Singtel's data usage.
But however, think there can be better methods into engaging Kumar with a gentler approach of a collaboration under their existing partnership programme (think its called SPP) instead of forcing Kumar to do the launch via App Zone.
Hmm, if Jimmy's assumption about App zone policies is correct, why would any developer publish for Singtel App Zone: take another 30% cut in revenue and giving it to Singtel, in which they provide nothing but just a hosting service and passive marketing? Also, Singtel's app zone is only available in singapore, not worldwide.
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