Unwanted Apple advertising: Push notification annoys iPhone users in the USA

How much advertising do users accept in an operating system? Apple currently seems to be exploring this question: With a push notification from the pre-installed Wallet app, the company has advertised several of its products – and received an unusual amount of criticism for doing so. According to the advertising message, there is a discount on the purchase of cinema tickets for Apple's Formula 1 movie if Apple Pay is used – with ticket provider Fandango. This message appeared on lock screens and in the Wallet app on iPhones of users with US Apple accounts. It remains unclear how many such messages Apple ultimately delivered to its devices.

Advertising as a push notification

In social media and forums such as Reddit, recipients of the message were less than enthusiastic: reactions ranged from a simple “How do I turn this garbage off?” to angry comments that people already pay more for Apple products and therefore expect to remain undisturbed by advertising. There is particular criticism of the fact that Apple uses the Wallet app of all things for this purpose, where users do not usually turn off the notifications –. After all, these otherwise provide information about purchases or debits, for example.

iOS apps from third-party developers were originally generally prohibited from delivering advertising via Apple's push notification service. However, not every app provider has complied with this in practice. Apple has since weakened the ban: push advertising is now permitted if users have “explicitly consented”. Where and in what form iPhone customers have also agreed to receive Apple Pay advertising remains unclear.

F1 film has top priority at Apple

Apple is currently pushing the Formula 1 film on all channels: from the keynote at the WWDC developer conference to Apple Maps: In the previously ad-free map service, the company has set up large digital advertising signs around the Circuit de Monaco, which also refer to the film. The company has been advertising its products in its operating systems and apps for some time, including its own streaming services and additional insurance for devices.

(lbe)