In a move to become a single alternative to Apple’s iTunes App Store, Cydia, the alternative iPhone app store, has just purchased its biggest competitor, ‘Rock Your Phone’.
Cydia and Rock provide alternative application stores for iPhone users willing to jailbreak their handsets, allowing the installation of non-Apple-approved software.
Over the next 10 days, Rock Your Phone will start to close down its app store. During this time, Rock users will be asked to set up a Cydia account to which their app purchases can then be transferred. This transition aims to streamline the user experience and consolidate the market for jailbroken iPhone applications.
The Impact on the Jailbreak Community
The acquisition of Rock Your Phone by Cydia is a significant event in the jailbreak community. Rock Your Phone has been a popular choice for users looking for an alternative to the official App Store, boasting an estimated 2 million users and the sale of more than 500,000 apps. By merging with Rock, Cydia is not only expanding its user base but also its app offerings, making it a more comprehensive platform for jailbroken devices.
Jailbreaking an iPhone allows users to bypass Apple’s restrictions and install software that is not available in the official App Store. This can include everything from customization tools to apps that offer functionality not permitted by Apple. While jailbreaking voids the warranty of the device, many users find the added flexibility and control worth the risk.
What This Means for Developers
For developers, this merger could mean a larger audience for their apps. With Rock’s user base migrating to Cydia, developers will have access to a more extensive network of potential customers. This could incentivize more developers to create apps specifically for the jailbroken community, further enriching the ecosystem.
However, it also means that developers who were exclusively on Rock will need to adapt to Cydia’s platform and guidelines. This transition period may involve some growing pains, but the long-term benefits could be substantial. Developers will now have a single, more robust platform to distribute their apps, potentially leading to increased sales and visibility.
Full details of the purchase have not been released, but the merger is expected to bring about significant changes in how users and developers interact with jailbroken iPhones. The consolidation of these two platforms could lead to a more unified and efficient marketplace for non-Apple-approved software.
For more information on the purchase, please visit the Cydia website.
Via Register
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