An application author (Angelo Dinardi) wrote an app named MailWrangler, and he has reported that he has been rejected from the App Store for reportedly duplicating the functionality of a built-in iPhone application.

Here is a snippet from his blog:

“So in July I wrote a small iPhone app called MailWrangler. Basically this app enabled a user to add their GMail accounts (standard and Google Apps For Your Domain) which they could load and switch between them quickly. It embedded Webkit in to the app and logged you in to the accounts automagically.”

More here: http://angelo.dinardi.name/2008/09/20/mailwrangler-and-the-apple-app-store/

Apple rejected the application (according to the letter he received) due to the duplication of functionality of the built-in application “without providing sufficient differentiation or added functionality”. Apple also pointed out some limitations in the function of the application.

Apple has generated significant criticism due to their rejection policies recently, though this rejection offers some more direction than previous letters, which has come under fire for rejections with little information as to the reason for being denied entry.