Honestly, this seems a bit like a publicity stunt to me. Everyone loves hating on Apple these days, and if you can tie it to "look at my new opensource project", then BAM, it hits HN front page.
I posted on HN because most readers are also programmers and they are exactly whom will fork the project, etc. That said, yep, it can be considered a 'publicity stunt', but you make it sound as something bad. I really just want that those interested get in touch.
Because you've basically admitted that your post is disingenuous. The DUNS requirement is easily sidestepped in the short term and a complete non-issue in the long term.
Plus, it helps keep out the less motivated.
Actually, it took me 8 days to open the company. At the first day I had the CNPJ (EIN in the US), so, in fact, it took me less than 24 hours to be able to accept payments.
I don't see the app store as a viable way of making a living anymore (for single developers). I'll try to build something that doesn't depend of other company's mood.
It's funny, but you also have to admire the optimism. If it only was accompanied with more persistence.
If you're planning to build a company, I don't think this will be your biggest problem. Unless, if you're doing this part time, then its even easier, just get an individual account.
Secondly, I don't understand your anger at Apple. They don't control DUNS numbers. It's not their fault that you're having a problem getting one.
My understanding is that DUNS was not always a requirement for companies publishing on the iOS App Store. It was added about a year and a half ago (?) and given the timing and what DUNS represents it seems reasonable to assume that it was added as a reaction to app spammers and scammers that would run fly by night operations, take people's money and run.
DUNS may not have been the best solution and like other areas of the submission/approval process it seems there are some obvious quality of life improvements Apple should implement but in the big picture what is the alternative to DUNS?
(1) Go back to scammer friendly system. Yeah I don't see that happening.
(2) Apple holds the money for longer. I don't see people lining up for this option.
(3) Everyone has to buy insurance. Spoilers: insurer asks for DUNS number.
(4) A better partner than D&B. Is there one? The US government appears to be looking for alternatives as well[1] but it doesn't look like there is a good replacement.
[1] http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-12-715R
GSA has been conducting an analysis of alternatives for the use of Dun & Bradstreet's DUNS entity unique identifier and is expected to complete its analysis by March 30, 2013.
I can't complain about the speed in getting a DUNS number, since it was quiet fast. Being in Canada, I was surprised how fast they were able to validate my newly created corporation. But I am not sure why we're to believe that D&B have special abilities. Incorporation documents are publicly available.
Yes crazy, but that's how governments work. Here in Poland you there is a problem with this also. Most of the time you have to register a company to be able to do anything that is not "working for someone else". E.g. when you put AdSense on your webpage and make some money you should do it under a company, not as an individual. Similarly with appstores.
It was never a "viable way of making a living" in the sense you describe. Who told you you can "release an app every 3-5 months and make 60k/year at least"?
For one, a proper apps takes a lot more time.
Second, no app is guaranteed to make anything at all.
Especially if it's coming from someone that hasn't made released any other iPhone app, doesn't know the market and doesn't know Objective-C! The App Store is like any other market: it takes effort, determination, hard work and/or luck.
And you devised all this plan (and even paid to start a company) without even testing the waters with a single app? Perhaps seeing something in the range of 2K a year for your first app (as many developers do, and most even less) would have spared you all this trouble.
Seems to me like you had this idea that the App Store was like a money printing service, where you just churn out some apps and roll in the dough, and in the first sign of trouble (and BS trouble at that, like the DUNS requirement) you demand the free money you were promised...
This seems more like wishful thinking (and underestimating the effort and polish needed) than a serious business decision.
>I reached a point where I'm no longer interested in building apps for the app store, apple asks too much and give us too little.
It asks for: a Mac to work (lots of people have one already) on, a $99/year iOS developer account and 30% of your sales.
With that you get: an quite capable IDE for free, a top-notch SDK, tons of documentation, access to a market of 100+ million devices and one-click credit card accounts that is KNOWN to sell billions of apps.
Seems like a bargain. Heck, companies used to sell a developer license for their SDK at the price of a high-end Mac itself -- and without providing access to any market or a free IDE. A lot still do.
What exactly have you provided to feel so entitled? A half-finished app, built while "learning Objective-C"?