Little over a month after app discovery platform AppGratis was pulled from the App Store for violating Apple's guidelines, we can reveal the service has just launched on Google Play.
The app recommendation tool, which still boasts more than 10 million users on iOS, was pulled by Apple for breaking the firm's rule on 'apps that could be confused for an app store' in their own right.
It was also suggested that Apple had objected to AppGratis' use of push notifications, claiming the platform broke clause 5.6, which regulates against apps that "use push notifications to send advertising, promotions, or direct marketing of any kind".
'Brutal'
Nonetheless, AppGratis now appears to be alive and well in much the same form on Google's marketplace, where history suggests it will encounter far less obstacles placed in its path.
AppGratis on Google Play
The removal of AppGratis caused a vast amount of controversy at the time, with the firm itself launching a petition against the decision, which before closure amassed more than 950,000 emails of support.
Apple also faced the scorn of France's digital industry minister Fleur Pellerin, who refered to the American giant's action against AppGratis as "extremely brutal," stating that Apple had acted "unilaterally and without explanation."
The silence is deafening
Indeed, AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat revealed Apple only got in contact with AppGratis after the platform had been removed from the marketplace.
"Since our App was removed, we have had one telephone conversation with an Apple employee who repeated the content of Apple's email to us, and refused to discuss the matter further," Dawlat said back in April.
"Since then Apple has not returned any of our calls. It goes without saying that I am still very keen to speak to them."
Apple remains largely silent on the issue, though rival app discovery platforms have since been approved for sale on the App Store, adding further confusion as to how Apple applies its own rules and regulations.
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Related Articles
Interview
Jun 11th, 2015
Two years from App Store rejection, AppGratis hits 10 million Android installs
Top Stories
Feature
May 17th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from a battle royale to a console classic remake
Feature
May 16th, 2024
Behind the scenes: How adding sandwich offers to an idle merge game boosted three metrics at once
Events
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Unreal Fest Gold Coast 2024 | Australasia | May 29th |
Popular Stories
Feature
May 14th, 2024
55 top mobile games in soft launch: Squad Busters, Battle Guys: Royale, Plants vs. Zombies 3, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures, and more
Feature
May 13th, 2024
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
Interview
May 13th, 2024