Less than a week after HMV announced its new digital music service and mobile apps, the company’s iOS app has been suspended from the Apple App Store.
Android and iOS apps were both launched by HMV on Thursday 17th, offering users the ability to browse HMV’s digital catalogue, listen to audio clips and buy MP3 downloads. At the time, HMV described it as “the first non-iTunes-based service on Apple’s iOS platform to allow the purchase of digital music downloads through a native app experience.”
However, today HMV confirmed that Apple has removed the app from its online store. In a tweet, chairman Paul McGowan said Apple had wanted the capability for digital purchasing to be removed.
Paul McGowan said “It is disappointing that Apple has chosen to suspend an app that has proven to be very successful in only a few short days despite Apple having already approved the exact same version on 15th September. We are unable to explain the change in Apple’s position as we have been given no explanation by them as to any difference they view between the approved version and the one suspended this evening. The Android and HTML versions of the app are spectacular and are proving a big hit with UK consumers with downloads growing constantly over the last few days. They will also be launched in Ireland on 24th October and we have pencilled in a Canadian launch during November.”