The recent news of a universal rating system for mobile apps and games has left many wondering just how an organization can hope to test out the million plus apps currently available on the market. The ESRB and CTIA have unveiled a few details regarding the new initiative, providing insight as to what will go on with cellular providers.
The new system will enable app developers to submit information on their app in the form of a questionnaire, thereby allowing the system to instantly attach a rating from 6+ to 18+. Ratings will cover as much as possible, such as violence, language, adult content and even location-sharing as well as third-party data sharing.
While the ratings will cover the six biggest mobile services in the world, the ESRB and CTIA have confirmed that Google and Apple will not be added to the list of providers. That leaves out a good 500K apps on the App Store as well as 300K apps on the Android Market without a rating.
"We've put a lot of effort into Android Market’s rating system, which now works well globally," Google spokesperson Christopher Katsaros told Bloomberg. "While we support other systems, we think it’s best for Android users and developers to stick with Android’s existing ratings."
"We are proud to partner with the wireless industry in lending our expertise and credibility to the development of a rating system that effectively fulfills our mission of informing consumers while meeting the needs of this rapidly growing and evolving segment of the interactive market," said ESRB president Patricia Vance in a statement.
"I applaud CTIA and ESRB on this consumer-friendly initiative," offered Senior Arizona Senator Mark Pryor in another statement. "It's a win-win when industry takes proactive, responsible steps to protect children from inappropriate content."
While Apple and Google will not be in the rating system, Apple does mandate a 4+ to 17+ system, while Google only offers an optional ratings label that is decided upon by the developer at their discretion.
