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How A Company Recovers After Pissing Off Steve Jobs

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We found out today how a company regains its composure after infuriating Apple’s Steve Jobs: Concede as quickly as possible.

SEE ALSO: Analytics Firm Says Apple Is Testing Rumored Tablet On Campus

That’s what Flurry is doing after its high-profile stunt earlier this year led to Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) changing the terms of its iPhone developer agreement and prompted Jobs to blame Flurry during his appearance at the D8 conference on Tuesday. “Honestly, we are putting our own feelings aside about what is being described as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ and how we might feel about Flurry being described a certain way,” said Flurry’s VP of Marketing Peter Farago. “Instead, we’re staying focused on what the best thing is for developers (getting important information to better run their businesses), consumers (protecting their privacy) and our company (continue to be a good partner to Apple as a platform provider).”

Flurry reached the height of its public awareness back in January. The mobile analytics company reported that it had detected 50-or-so rogue devices on Apple’s Cupertino, Calif. campus that were likely the prototypes of the yet-to-be-announced iPad.

Jobs explained on Tuesday that he felt it was a violation of privacy when Flurry leaked information about the iPad’s existence. “One day we read in the paper that a company called Flurry Analytics has detected that we have some new iPhone and ‘other tablet devices’ that we’re using on our campus,” Jobs said. “After we calm down from being pissed off, then we’re willing to talk to some of these analytics firms. But it’s not today.”

In the interim, Apple has changed the developer rules to outlaw the use of third-parties to collect device data. The exact words are: “The use of third party software in Your Application to collect and send Device Data to a third party for processing or analysis is expressly prohibited.”

Flurry said that well before the D8 conference, it was working on complying with the issues raised, and has since been taking steps to address them with the help of its 30,000 customers. Specifically in regards to “device data,” Flurry said it is updating their service to be in compliance and will no longer collect the data. All-in-all, it’s trying to fall in line as quickly as possible. “Regarding sharing some specific aggregated usage statistics, to which Apple is opposed, we will comply with their wishes. Our goal continues to be to add value to the developer ecosystem and be a strong partner to platform providers,” Farago said.

Bonus video of Jobs explaining why he is banning analytics on devices from services, like Flurry.

Jun 3, 2010 4:20 PM ET

Steve Jobs @ D8 Photo: Asa Mathat/All Things D


Posted In: Apps, Mobile, Research & Metrics, Metrics, Companies, Apple, iPad, iPhone, flurry, steve jobs

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