Push notification as an App Store solution?

Background push notification is Apple’s solution to the problems created by refusing to grant multi-tasking to 3rd party applications. Keeping a persistent IP connection to the iPhone to forward third-party server notifications will enable IM clients and other social networking apps such as Twitterrific to operate in a much more useful fashion.

Obviously, this will be a welcomed addition to this powerful pocket computer. True multi-tasking would be the ideal, but with the iPhone’s limited resources Apple’s nifty solution - should it ever see the light of day - could be a dream come true.

Could the push notification service be used for more than instant messaging, perhaps even solving some other thorny issues presently worrying iPhone developers?

One of the problems with the current App Store is that applications that don’t sell enough copies to make it into the top 25 applications list find it hard to connect with potential customers. Granted, there are several ways that developers can tackle this issue, including giving away free versions of the application, promotion through their own websites and Google AdWords, but perhaps Apple can also help out via push notification.

I’m thinking something similar to the iTunes Genius feature but with push notification.

At a most basic level this service would simply analyse iPhone application purchase associations in much the same way as Genius does for song purchases, but beyond that it might behave in a manner more akin to the iTunes Smart Playlist feature. Here are just a few examples;

1. All new apps that are of extremely high quality. Instruction to Apple: Push notify me when any new application receives 5 stars in it’s first 5 users reviews.

2. All new games that are tried and tested classics. Instruction to Apple: Push notify me when any game has received an average of 4 or more stars after 100 user reviews.

3. Keep up to date with all your favourite apps. Instruction to Apple: Push notify me when any application that I have rated 5 stars is updated.

4. All apps that are worth the extra dosh! Instruction to Apple: Notify me when any application priced at £5.99 or more receives an average rating of 4 or more stars after 10 user reviews.

5. Surprise gems! Instruction to Apple: Notify me when any application receives a 10:1 download/review ratio.

6. Rising stars. Instruction to Apple: Notify me when any application maintains a 4 star average rating and has been downloaded more than 300 times in the last 24 hours.

7. Lost forever? Instruction to Apple: Notify me of all applications that have not been downloaded at all in the last 96 hours but have received at least one 5 star rating in their total lifetime.

As you can see, the list of possible instructions is almost endless. This smart sorting system coupled with Apple’s instant notification service good be a surprising solution to the current App Store problem.

Apple’s push notification service was supposed to go live in September, could the delay be caused by Steve Jobs ordering an expansion of its day-to-day duties? We’ll see soon enough.