CTIA and the ESRB (famous or infamous depending on who you ask known for strong arming the “optional” rating system into existence in the states) have issues a press release stating their plans to develop a rating system for mobile application.It should be noted that as of right now, both the Apple App Store and the Google Android Market have their own version of a rating system in place. It seems what CTIA and the ESRB is trying to do is have a unified rating system across every different operating system. While the benefits of having recognizable ratings on applications is great from a parental stand point, if this is adopted by Apple or Google and becomes mandatory it may lead to longer approval times on applications and end up more expensive for app developers, both of which can be deadly to a small studio. Personally, I think the rating systems in place now do the job fine, and adding a third party rating commission will hurt more than it helps. Feel free to let me know what you think in the comments.
Full Press Release Below:
CTIA-The Wireless Association® to Announce Mobile Application Rating System with ESRB
WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — What: CTIA-The Wireless Association® will announce a mobile application rating system with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Applications will be rated based on age-appropriateness of their content and context. The details of the mobile application rating system will be released at the press announcement.
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Registration & Light Refreshments begin at 9:30 a.m. EST.
Press Announcement at 10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. EST.
Where: Symposium Center (4th Floor) at the Top of the Hill Conference Center at the Reserve Officers Association Minuteman Memorial Building; One Constitution Avenue, NE; Washington, DC 20002.
Who: Confirmed speakers are: U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH); U.S. Senator Mark Pryor (D-AR); CTIA President and CEO Steve Largent; and ESRB President Patricia Vance.
Media are welcome to attend. RSVP to CTIA: ctiamedrel@ctia.org
About CTIA:
CTIA-The Wireless Association® (www.ctia.org) is an international organization representing the wireless communications industry. Membership in the association includes wireless carriers and their suppliers, as well as providers and manufacturers of wireless data services and products. CTIA advocates on behalf of its members at all levels of government. The association also coordinates the industry’s voluntary best practices and initiatives, and sponsors the industry’s leading wireless trade shows. CTIA was founded in 1984 and is based in Washington, D.C.
