With the release of version 1.3 of the Microsoft Partner Information app this morning for Windows Phone and Android phones around the world, I expect to shortly get another round of the “Where is the iPhone version of the app?” and “What about users of iPhones?” questions that I have been receiving since announcing the initial launch of the Microsoft Partner Info app back on May 23rd. Now here’s the part you may not be expecting... I’m not the one that said, “No,” to having the Microsoft Partner Info app available on iPhone, Apple is. (So I am asking for your help below)

That’s right. the reality is, I actually submitted the bits for the 1.2 version release of the app to Apple for inclusion in the App Store a little over a week ago. Then this last Friday, I received a notification from Apple that the submission of Microsoft Partner Info app had been rejected because, “Apps that are simply web clippings, content aggregators, or a collection of links, may be rejected.” Here’s a snapshot of what I received:

Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not a Mac expert, but I’ve used Safari (especially while using a Mac for the Microsoft Partner Info app & again after receiving the notification above) and I don’t quite see how it provides the same thing that the app does.

Ok, here’s a quick sidetrack story that I thought you might get a kick out of so I am sharing it with you here. As I was sitting in my house starting work on the Microsoft Partner Info app for iPhone, my youngest daughter came in, did a double-take, grabbed her Windows Phone, started taking pictures, then yelled to my wife and other daughter, “Dad’s using a Mac! Look, I have pictures to prove it!” As such, I thought I would even share one of them with you here. See what I do to try and meet your requests and how much I value your feedback and input?

Ok, back to the point of this post, I am happy to admit when I am wrong, so all of you that have been pinging me asking me about wanting the Microsoft Partner Info Mobile App on your iPhones, please tell me if you feel you don’t want or need it anymore because you have Safari on your Macs. If after opening Safari you feel you would still benefit from and like to have the Microsoft Partner Info Mobile App on your iPhones, then I am asking for your help below.

Apple has provided me an area to provide a reason I believe their assessment of the application should be reconsidered and obviously I believe the app provides a great deal of value above and beyond just a browser. (Especially when I see comments from partners like, “Eric, we don’t have Windows Phone available in our country, so we have no way to get the app. Please release an iPhone version so we can have access to it too.”)As the person who wrote the app, I am clearly a biased opinion, so I would like to show that it is not just me that wants to see the Microsoft Partner Info app on iPhone.

Here’s how you can help:

• If you are a Twitter user, simple copy, paste & send the following tweet:

Hey, #Apple. I want the #Microsoft Partner Info App on @AppStore for #iPhone! Please RT! http://bit.ly/lgxEKd #mspartner

• If you are a blogger, and if you have the desire to do so, it would be great to see even a short post stating why you would like to have the Microsoft Partner Info app available on iPhone. If you do put up a post, please send me the URL so I can include it in my feedback.

Ok, anyone else getting movie flashbacks? “Help me… help you. Help me, help you.” 

I have submitted the 1.3 version bits to Apple over the weekend, and hopefully with your support to see it make it to the iPhone, it will make it there shortly.

Did you find this information helpful? If so, you may want to make sure you are utilizing all of the areas I share information online, such as: my Facebook page, my Twitter account, my LinkedIn account, and my blog.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman – Follow me on TWITTER, LinkedIn, and RSS and see “What I’m thinking”
Director, Worldwide Partner Experience
Microsoft Corporation
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights

Bookmark on: MSDN , TechNet, and Expression