Apple has green-lighted the Been Choice ad-blocking app in the iTunes App Store, which blocks smartphone and tablet applications' ads and even native mobile apps' advertisements, including Facebook and Apple News. It uses a combination of a Safari content blocker and Virtual Private Network (VPN) service.
On one hand Apple is meeting customers' demand for more ad-blocking tech within its brand new iOS 9 to avoid annoying and disturbing advertisements. However, blocking Apple News' revenue-earning native ads seems counter-productive.
Maybe Apple wanted that situation. However, Been Choice could instead be kicked out of the Apple Store soon.
Another ironic issue is that the app hides a paid surveys operation in the app. Yet it claims to maintain data privacy.
The app was developed by co-founders Sang Shin and Dave Yoon. Yoon has explained that the app's name "Been Choice" represents an option between ad-blocking and data-sharing for rewards.
Such rewards now exist as PayPal cash. However, other payment methods such as Amazon gift cards are in the works.
Been Choice includes two ad-blocking settings. One includes a standard Safari Content blocker, which is a new iOS 9 feature.
The second method is via Been Choice's VPN service. It is like connecting an iPhone device to a company's Intranet, by using pattern matching to remove particular content such as ads, according to Tech Crunch.
Been Choice also includes an Earn option like a paid surveys operation. It allows users to receive rewards when exchanging data with marketers.
When the Earn mode is full, the app's user gets a message. They can then provide an email address to get a slot when it is available, according to Marketing Land.
The ad-blocking app is somewhat of an enigma. It halts all advertisements even in native apps, but rewards users who are willing to make money by selling tons of behavioral data to marketers.