AppGratis CEO Explains App Store Removal, Says AppGratis is 'Far From Finished'

AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat today issued a statement about the recent removal of the AppGratis iPhone and iPad apps from the App Store, confirming that the apps were pulled for violating App Store guidelines 2.25 and 5.6, which state the following:

Guideline 2.25
Apps that display Apps other than your own for purchase or promotion in a manner similar to or confusing with the App Store will be rejected.

Guideline 5.6
Apps cannot use Push Notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind.

Dawlat explains that the AppGratis app was originally approved by two Apple reviewers, but a third reviewer pulled the app shortly after the release of the iPad version.

Early Monday, R. gave me a follow-up call. He basically couldn't go beyond repeating multiple times that our app had been pulled out due to guideline 2.25 and 5.6.

I asked how he and his team could have possibly changed their minds overnight, pretty much pulling the plug on a 45-person company. He seemed very detached regarding the gravity of the situation, and was unable to let me know on what specifics these decisions had been made.

Dawlat goes on to say that he remains in "absolute shock" about what is happening to AppGratis, but that the service is "far from finished."

AppGratis, he says, still has more than 12 million iOS users, and will continue to deliver new daily deals. Dawlat finishes his lengthy blog post with a plea, asking for readers to share the post and for an Apple executive to get in touch to further discuss the matter.