IOS Developers Now Need To Localize Their Apps

In the process of internationalize the Internet services and app ecosystem for the Apple company, they have recently intended a letter to all the developers. The letter was actually a request for the developers to localize their apps. What’s more is that Apple launched a new Chinese language version of its Support Communities forum.

The letter to the iTunes Connect members contained info about the App Store and Mac App Store (available in 155 countries and supporting 40 languages) and an explanation on why localizing is important for the business and this is in order to reach customers throughout the world. Also, the letter contained the tutorial on how to localize and insisted on the fact that the marketing material of the developers should highlight the fact that the app is localized, as it will make the users enjoy the app in their native language. In fact they accentuated the fact that it is the proper moment to localize the apps and marketing material. Another extract from the letter confirms that the App Store editorial team is willing to have great apps which are localized.

Apple’s App Store and iBookstore teams contacted the content creators through iTunes Connect through an email which contained a list advantages of app and marketing localization. To attest this and in order to complete this action, Apple also started a localized asset with the Chinese language Support Communities. According to AppleInsider reader Gregg, the email were sent on Wednesday.

Before sending out the letter, Apple started to be present on a Chinese Support Communities forum, where the Chinese speaking users had the chance to talk in their language in order to help each other. As there is a new service, there are not so many active users, still the Original Support Communities – which in fact is an upgrade of the Discussions board – supports thousands of users after two years of activity.

Some might say that the Chinese language forum might actually be linked to an hours-long Support Communities outage which recently happened. The downtime was attributed to routine maintenance as there were no changes, still Apple could have modified this, as the Chinese language site seems to use the domain Apple.com  which is the same with the English version.

The two Apple developments suggest that the company is planning to be more present in internationally. The fact that China is the first addressed country is an expected step, as it has millions of potential consumers and it seems that the company’s actions are the preliminary for a boom in Apple’s sales.

For the moment, Apple has a partnership with two of the most important Chinese wireless telecoms and it is on the point of reaching an official deal with China Mobile. From the last visit of the Apple CEO Tim Cook in China, which was in January, different rumors regarding a low-cost device specially created for the developing markets and a next-gen iPhone have appeared.

Also, recently Apple had some problems with the state-run media outlets which suggested that the Chinese warranty policies are not the same with those offered for the other markets. The answer from Apple came with an apology letter which explained the whole situation and it promised a reform, response which is not so often met in Apple’s history. The result of the letter was astonishing, as the Chinese press became an Apple supporter in only one day.