Exceptions to no private API usage in iOS?

Question

My company is looking to develop an iOS application which would need to make use of private APIs to function - in fact use of such APIs is the entire basis of the program (I'm purposely not revealing details for business reasons).

My question is, is there any chance that if we explained the situation, that Apple would allow an exception for our app to be approved even when using these private APIs? I believe we have a very legitimate reason to request an exception for the functionality we're looking for, so I'd just like some examples of any exceptions that have been made to the private APIs rule with details so that we can have a better idea of what might be expected from Apple. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'll be honest with you: no. If you're looking to put this on the app store, no.

You may wonder how I know this with such certainty: I've worked with carriers that carry the iPhone, and I've worked with very large companies with whom Apple has working relationships (ie, you can actually talk to someone fairly senior at Apple). If Apple won't let carriers use private APIs, they not going to let you do it either. One 'legitimate' private API use might be to put recent call information into a carrier provided account app. Could be pretty useful, right? And the carrier already has this information, so no problem? No. It's a big problem. Apple just won't allow it. You have to get it from elsewhere (ie, via the carrier's own database).

There are no exceptions, and currently apps get statically analysed immediately after submission. If you call a private API your app will almost certainly be instantly rejected automatically by the static analyzer. It won't even go through manual review.

If you're looking to distribute on the app store, there are literally no exceptions now that code gets statically analyzed.

Put it another way: if Apple made an exception for your app they'd have to make an exception for every app. And then your unique selling point wouldn't be so unique any more.

Sorry I can't give you a more positive answer, but I speak from experience!