An iPhone keyboard for blind users will be discontinued, according to the app's developer, who alleges that

iPhone keyboard for blind to shut down as maker cites Apple “abuse” of developers

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2021-08-17 21:00:08

An iPhone keyboard for blind users will be discontinued, according to the app's developer, who alleges that "Apple has thrown us obstacle after obstacle for years while we try to provide an app to improve people's lives."

FlickType includes an Apple Watch keyboard and the iPhone keyboard intended for blind and low-vision users of VoiceOver, an Apple technology that can speak the key a user selects. FlickType's Apple Watch keyboard will continue, at least for a while, but the iPhone keyboard will be disabled.

"It's with a heavy heart today that we're announcing the discontinuation of our award-winning iPhone keyboard for blind users," the FlickType account on Twitter wrote yesterday. FlickType is developed by Kosta Eleftheriou, who recently filed a lawsuit alleging that Apple used its control over iPhone app distribution to induce him to sell FlickType to Apple at a discount. He says he refused to sell the app.

The last straw for FlickType's keyboard extension came last week when Eleftheriou "submitted an update that fixes various iOS 15-related issues & improves the app for VoiceOver users," FlickType wrote. "But Apple rejected it. They incorrectly argue again that our keyboard extension doesn't work without 'full access,' something they rejected us for THREE years ago. Back then we successfully appealed and overturned their decision, and this hadn't been a problem since. Until now."