This is a great addition to Parse.com, for one of my app I had to implement my own tracking of token, so I could do push notification based on some query criteria.
Looks like I will be able to migrate fully to Parse.com now, and not have to worry about having my server running constantly.
Not that I am aware but I did not look recently. The 2 other services that I have checked are Urban Airship and last I checked they did not have it (they have the concept of tags which is similar to Parse's channel).
The other one I checked is applicasa.com and they may offer such service in the future. The page: http://applicasa.com/Push.aspx has a 'coming soon' for a feature that look similar.
So looks like Parse.com is the first one to offer it, and my experience so far with their API is good.
Please do not encourage developers to send push notifications that contain marketing messages, like a notification about a new version of the app. Rampant abuse of push notifications in this way is ruining the push notification mechanism for developers that use them appropriately, because users are growing tired of being blasted with unwanted push notifications, so they reflexively reject push notifications when any app asks for permission.
Push notifications compete for user attention at the same level as incoming text messages and phone calls. Using them to announce a new version of your app is inappropriate, unless you think it'd be appropriate to call or text every user of your app to let them know about a new version.
Also, using push notifications in this way is arguably a violation of the App Store review guidelines, in particular:
"5.6 Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind"
4 comments
[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 10.2 ms ] threadPush notifications compete for user attention at the same level as incoming text messages and phone calls. Using them to announce a new version of your app is inappropriate, unless you think it'd be appropriate to call or text every user of your app to let them know about a new version.
Also, using push notifications in this way is arguably a violation of the App Store review guidelines, in particular:
"5.6 Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind"