Telegram founder blames Apple for holding back a major update

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge

According to a Telegram post, an upcoming Telegram update has been stuck in the Apple app review for two weeks without explanation. The update is supposed to change how people express themselves in messaging, but it hasn't been approved.

Durov talked about the holdup as part of a critique of app store business models. Telegram is discouraged by the app review process that is imposed on all mobile apps. If Telegram, one of the top 10 most popular apps globally, is receiving this treatment, one can only imagine how difficult it is for smaller app developers.

Screenshot by Jay Peters / The Verge

Apple and Telegram didn't reply to a request for comment on what's in the new update. Durov has previously criticized Apple for its app review processes. Durov claimed that Apple blocked Telegram updates after Russia banned it. An update was approved by Apple after Durov posted about it.

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