Categories: Tech & Society

Apple to Release New Tracking Tool for Apps

Apple is planning to release a new way for mobile app developers to track who uses their software. This comes as the company’s latest attempt to balance developers’ appetite for targeting data with consumers’ unease over how it is used.

The new tool, which could be detailed in the coming weeks, aims to better protect user privacy than existing approaches.

Many mobile companies rely on what is called the Unique Device Identifier, or UDID, to serve ads and gather data—like location and preferences—as people move between apps. But some privacy advocates argued that the string of numbers, which are anonymous, could be coupled with enough data to identify individuals.

App developers are worried about losing millions of dollars in revenue if they can’t target users with mobile ads.

Meanwhile, developers and mobile ad networks have been evaluating various workarounds, worried about losing millions of dollars in revenue if they can’t target users with mobile ads. Companies also say they need a way to recognize users in order to customize content and preferences.

“Everyone is waiting for Apple to do something,” says Lars Albright, the chief executive of mobile-marketing company SessionM and a former executive in Apple’s iAd division. “There are a lot of different viewpoints in the industry. We don’t need more confusion. We need less.”

Source: WSJ

 

Prateek Panda

Prateek is the Founder of TheTechPanda. He's passionate about technology startups and entrepreneurship and enjoys speaking to new founders every day. Prateek has also been consistently regarded as one of the top marketing experts in the region.

Recent Posts

Disrupting Fintech: How product studios are transforming financial services

In the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape, innovative product studios are emerging as powerful catalysts…

2 days ago

Harnessing the power of AI: Preparing today’s workforce for tomorrow’s challenges

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement, Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative…

2 days ago

Indian esports makes history at BRICS Esports Championship in Moscow

In a historic moment for Indian esports, Wasfi “YoshiKiller” Bilal secured a silver medal at…

3 days ago

Geek Appeal: New gadgets & apps on the block

The Tech Panda takes a look at recently launched gadgets & apps in the market.…

3 days ago

Ecosystem harkat: India’s Biotech & space tech, early stage tech startups & women entrepreneurs in blockchain

The Tech Panda takes a look at what’s buzzing in the startup ecosystem. The startup…

3 days ago

Harris vs. Trump: Forecasting Bitcoin’s Future in a Post-Election Economy

With just days until the outcome of the U.S. presidential race, Bitcoin enthusiasts across the…

4 days ago