MARC WRITES:
Not yet but we are working on it.

PAUL H WROTE:
Almost a year after Ilium Software launched eWallet in Apple’s App Store, and after too many failed promises, Ilium has still not provided a Mac sync app as originally advertised. The company seems satisfied with the Windows slice of the sales pie and sees no pressing need to accommodate Mac users. Apparently Ilium does not have the necessary expertise to develop the promised Mac desktop sync application in-house and is not prepared to dedicate sufficient resources to outsource the project in a timely manner in order to meet its previously stated commitments. Ilium has now belatedly removed all references to Mac compatibility in its App Store listing. However closing the barn door after the horse has escaped may well prove fruitless on a number of fronts.

The many Mac users who purchased eWallet as originally advertised (ie ‘Mac sync capability by December 2008′, revised in 2009 to ‘Mac sync capability coming soon’) do have several options in venting their dissatisfaction.

When Apple took several weeks to approve eWallet’s entry into the App Store last July, Ilium was very effective in rallying vocal support/criticism among the Mac centric websites to push forward the eWallet approval process. Disenchanted customers can be equally effective if they begin contacting those same websites who championed Ilium’s cause in mid 2008 (TUAW, Macworld, MacNN, AppleInsider, etc) reminding them of their editorial support and asking them to now follow up on Ilium’s failed promises to the Mac community.

Ilium is not unique in having misled App Store customers by deliberately advertising a capability it later reneged in providing. Many of you will know that misleading sales of this nature are in direct violation of consumer laws in virtually every country where Apple operates its App Store. Having corresponded with Apple on this issue, they advise that they are aware of the problems (with false advertising) and are deciding how to best resolve the issue as it pertains to companies like Ilium. As Apple has no refund mechanism, and no plans for one at present, that could entail delisting the companies concerned until they meet the original sale obligations. This would prove most effective with companies like Ilium who feel they can happily continue profiting from the Windows segment of the App Store market after knowingly misleading Mac customers. One might reasonably conclude that faced with the prospect of being delisted, and thereby losing sales on all their other apps as well, priorities within Ilium might quickly be redirected from developing further iPhone apps to fulfilling the promised capabilities of its current offerings.

Obviously the more paying customers who make their displeasure known, the quicker Apple will act decisively on this issue. Mac users will likely have noted that, in its advertising and promotional material for the iPhone on the Apple website (ie Apps for Getting Things Done), Apple is blatantly directing iPhone users to another security password app that does have the promised sync capability — suggesting the growing customer dissatisfaction has not gone unseen. Please note that I have deliberately not mentioned their recommended app as my intention here is to push for an Ilium solution, not drive customers elsewhere.

The ever likeable Marc (Ilium’s public face on their blog) has done an admirable job trying to mitigate Ilium’s responsibility and jolly along the faithful. Unfortunately this has now reached the point where immediate corrective action is necessary. Not regrets, not apologies, not excuses and not further delays. Ilium took money for a product it has yet to deliver, and almost a year on, that is indefensible.

As a I doubt this post will remain long on the Ilium blog, it is being posted on all Mac user boards and I invite anyone affected by this problem to repost the content as they please.

@Paul H: And I’m sure that, just as we’ve never censored your comments on our blog, you will do us the return courtesy of telling us the names of the sites you are posting your manifesto so that we may reply with our side of the story? Thanks!

We always welcome dissenting views and strong opinions but we won’t allow advertisements for competing products.

I had previously moved away from your product because it was not cross platform. I love your product and would love to use it on all my machines.

At this point I have to agree with those who have asked for just development updates, not excuses.

I really can’t wait to see ListPro, but I am not sure I will take the time to change back. This is one of the risks, I guess, in business and should be a good subject for a business blog somewhere.

Can’t wait to see ListPro for the iPhone. Not sure if it will make much difference now.