UDIDs banned by Apple

Apple has finally placed a deadline on its rejection of apps that use UDIDs (Universal Device Identifier). 

Starting May 1, the App Store will no longer accept new apps or app updates that access UDIDs. 

Companies will have to update their apps and servers to associate users with the Vendor or Advertising Identifiers introduced in iOS 6. 

UDID

A UDID, or “Unique Device Identifier,” is simply a specific serial number for your iDevice. 
The UDID has been mainly used as a way to document the existence of your device and to track it. It is a 40-number, alphanumeric string that is not replicated on any other iDevice.

The UDID is also important because it is the way that most ad companies profile cellphone users for marketing purposes. 

There have been a lots of issues raised about iOS apps sending UDID numbers to ad companies without the user’s permission. Finally Apple, after several months of progressively transitioning developers away from the use of UDIDs has put an end to their use.

The below video will show give a good picture on why Apple has finally adopted the decision of rejecting apps that use UDIDs.




Advertising Identifiers


iOS 6 introduced the Advertising Identifier, a non-permanent, non-personal device identifier, 
that advertising networks will use to give you more control over advertisers’ ability to use tracking methods.



If you choose to limit ad tracking, advertising networks using the Advertising Identifier may no longer gather information to serve you targeted ads. 

In the future all advertising networks will be required to use the Advertising Identifier. 
However, until advertising networks transition to using the Advertising Identifier you may still 
receive targeted ads from other networks.