Apple’s 2020 Deadline 🍎

An important change came into effect in iOS 13 that required quite a bit of unexpected re-engineering for many app developers.

Until iOS 13, developers used what is called background notification to update apps remotely with timely information or actions, e.g. we use this to inform you via the app who is calling you and at the end of a call to update your call history.

However, Apple noticed that some rogue apps were abusing this mechanism plus when you had a lot of messages, the battery was impacted.

Apple has now changed the mechanism and informed developers they need to provide a visible alert for some background notifications and have given us and others (such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger) until this year (2020) to make the change.

Will, I really notice anything, we hear you ask?

The primary notable difference is that some background notifications (you didn’t notice previously) we now make you aware of.

This is particularly more noticeable when using your Mobile Network (GSM in old speak) option for receiving calls – you will now see an alert that you are about to receive a call just before the app rings. You may also see a call summary alert when a call ends.

If you’re interested in much more detail, we think this article is quite interesting:
https://appleinsider.com/articles/19/09/05/secure-messaging-apps-working-to-comply-with-apples-ios-13-privacy-changes