AdMob founder lays into Apple

The founder and chief executive of mobile advertising firm AdMob is critising Apple's new restrictions on mobile advertising.

Omar Hamoudi said in a company blog posting that the regulations could potentially cut off revenue streams for thousands of developers who rely on advertising networks now banned from the Apple iAds platform.

The rule, which was introduced to developers on Monday, would bar applications from displaying ads served by an advertising network which is affiliated with a competing mobile developer or is not primarily in the ad business.

AdMob, which was formally acquired by Google last month, finds itself in violation of that rule. Hamoudi claimed that a ban of AdMob could cut off revenue streams for iPhone OS application developers that rely on the service.

"Let’s be clear. This change is not in the best interests of users or developers," he wrote.

"In the history of technology and innovation, it’s clear that competition delivers the best outcome. Artificial barriers to competition hurt users and developers and, in the long run, stall technological progress."

Hamoudi said that his company would be in contact with Apple to express its concerns with the terms.