App Store Hotline Available to Certain Developers?

The Register reports that some high-profile iPhone app developers can simply call a dedicated contact at Apple to get assistance with App Store issues.

Mike Simon, CEO of LogMeIn, describes that a representative at Apple had recently called the company and offered to be a single point of contact for any App Store-related issues. Simon stated, "We now have a number we can call to ask questions."

LogMeIn is the developer of an app that offers one-click remote control of a Mac or PC from an iPhone. Available in the App Store for $29.99 [App Store], it has been featured in Apple's print and television ads promoting the App Store.

Simon also mentioned that he is aware of one other developer with similar access to App Store support, but declined to name this developer.

This type of direct and personalized access to App Store developer support is a distinct departure from the experiences of other developers who have made public their trials and tribulations in getting information from Apple on the app approval process. Tapbots is one developer who recently encountered problems with their Convertbot app [App Store], experiencing a rejected update over an icon that was too similar to one used by Apple in its own apps. Blunder Move is another developer who experienced similar issues over "shiny chat bubbles" within their Chess Wars app, and the large amount of press coverage the developer's blog post about this problem received may have been a factor in Apple's move to make direct contact with the developer to resolve the issue.

Apple's response to the FCC after its inquiry into the purported rejection of the Google Voice app specified that there are "40 full-time trained reviewers" and that "at least two different reviewers study each application so that the review process is applied uniformly." It is not known if the dedicated contact reportedly available to LogMeIn is part of this staff.