SEPTA App not available "in your region"

[AdamWW]

I tried installing the SEPTA App on my Android phone but apparently it's not available on Google Play in my region.

I don't know if when uploading to the app store you specifically have to deny access to particular regions if that's what you want, or if it's somehow the default and other regions have to be enabled, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for other US transit agencies.

It's somewhat unwelcoming.

I hope UK companies don't do the same for our foreign visitors.

I expect there's a workaround but I'm not sure I could be bothered.

 

[Gaelan]

I hope UK companies don't do the same for our foreign visitors.

As an American living in the UK, I face this problem regularly. Off the top of my head, this is the case for the Nationwide and Tesco apps; I'm sure there are others.

I've ended up having to make a separate Apple account to download these apps. (I can't switch my primary Apple account to the UK, as that would entail losing access to "family sharing", requiring me to pay for various things already paid for by my parents.)

 

[Flying Snail]

I tried installing the SEPTA App on my Android phone but apparently it's not available on Google Play in my region.

I don't know if when uploading to the app store you specifically have to deny access to particular regions if that's what you want, or if it's somehow the default and other regions have to be enabled, but it doesn't seem to be a problem for other US transit agencies.

It's somewhat unwelcoming.

I hope UK companies don't do the same for our foreign visitors.

I expect there's a workaround but I'm not sure I could be bothered.

Many UK companies do geo restrict apps, it is a really stupid and irritating practice.

It is Google Android/Apple that are mostly to blame, it should be simple to just swap countries or just select which country app to install but they make it near impossible.

 

[AdamWW]

Many UK companies do geo restrict apps, it is a really stupid and irritating practice.

It is Google Android/Apple that are mostly to blame, it should be simple to just swap countries or just select which country app to install but they make it near impossible.

Interesting because I travel abroad a bit and it's the first time I've not been able to download an app like that.

I'm sure there are legitimate reasons for such restrictions in some cases, but this doesn't seem to be one.

 

[nw1]

When uploading an app you can restrict what countries it's distributed to - I guess this is to protect users, and perhaps developers too, by preventing the distribution of politically-sensitive or locally-illegal content to countries where users might get into trouble for accessing it (e.g. an app that makes fun of Putin in Russia).

I see no reason for the developers of the SEPTA app to restrict access outside the US though.

 

[AdamWW]

I see no reason for the developers of the SEPTA app to restrict access outside the US though.

That's why I was wondering if there was additional work involved in allowing access to different regions.

 

[nw1]

That's why I was wondering if there was additional work involved in allowing access to different regions.

The default (I think) is to allow distribution to zero countries, but then you can "select all".

 

[gordonthemoron]

If I want to install an app that isn’t available in the UK, I just change the Region on my iPhone to the required country, install app and then change it back to UK, I’ve not had a problem with that method. I’ve done that for Ticketmaster DE and Ticketek AU

 

[eldomtom2]

I see no reason for the developers of the SEPTA app to restrict access outside the US though.

I believe that legislation like GDPR plays a role here. It's not very surprising that the developers of a transit agency app would err on the side of caution and restrict access outside the country that 99% of its users will be from.

 

[AdamWW]

I believe that legislation like GDPR plays a role here. It's not very surprising that the developers of a transit agency app would err on the side of caution and restrict access outside the country that 99% of its users will be from.

In principle perhaps it's not surprising.

But it surprised me because I have happily downloaded plenty of similar apps without any trouble.

 

[nw1]

I believe that legislation like GDPR plays a role here. It's not very surprising that the developers of a transit agency app would err on the side of caution and restrict access outside the country that 99% of its users will be from.

Mind you is there any reason why a public transport info app would, or perhaps I need to say should, raise any GDPR concerns in any case? It wouldn't need to collect any personal information, for example.