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Exclusive: AppGratis launches petition against App Store ejection, gets 400,000 emails of support

'The user's voice always matters most'

Exclusive: AppGratis launches petition against App Store ejection, gets 400,000 emails of support
Almost ten days after its app discovery platform was pulled from the App Store, French firm AppGratis is turning to its userbase in a bid to convince Apple to reverse its decision.

The company has launched a petition that calls for the voice of AppGratis users to be heard, with Apple reportedly having shelved the app for violating two of its App Store guidelines.

However, in a pop up message asking users to sign the petition, AppGratis says it "cannot die like this."

"It's you, Apple users, who will have the final word," the pop up concludes.

Community chest

Announcing news of the petition exclusively to PocketGamer.biz, CEO Simon Dawlat said the decision to involve the AppGratis community was made because the platform’s foundations are in its userbase.

"We reached out to our users and asked for their public support because it's important everybody understands AppGratis is first and foremost a community, a consumer service, an iOS app loved and used by millions in the world," said Dawlat in the statement.

"And at the end of the day, it's always the end user's voice that matters most."


The petition as it stands now

Dawlat said 400,000 emails had already been sent to the save [at] AppGrat.is email account, with "20,000 supportive tweets" also posted since the petition went live.

Looking ahead

"We expect much much more in the next days," continued Dawlat.

"We needed a strong vote of confidence from our users to keep calm and carry on. And we got it."

The move comes days after AppGratis CEO Simon Dawlat described rumours his company had been given fair warning that his discovery platform was in breach of Apple's rules as "absolutely untrue."

Whether or not the petition will reach the higher echelons of Apple remains to be seen, but given the American giant's reluctant to discuss the issue openly, AppGratis will be hoping involving its community will highlight the strength of feeling within some quarters of the industry.

With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.