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As a TrapCall user you have a right to know what’s going on with TrapCall and why we’re no longer available in the iPhone App Store. Until now, we’ve kept fairly quiet about the app’s status, while crossing our fingers and submitting six subsequent updates to Apple in an attempt to resolve any concerns they have over our app. We’ve spoken to the developer relations people at Apple numerous times now. We believe we’ve followed through with every “suggestion” they’ve made. Yet, we still have not been able to get TrapCall re-approved for the App Store, even though TrapCall remains 100% legal.

At this point, it’s hard for us to decipher what’s really going on with the TrapCall app within Apple. We get the impression that Apple just doesn’t appreciate or understand TrapCall and the benefit we provide to our users, law enforcement, and even the US mobile carriers. TrapCall is more than a tool. To some, it’s peace of  mind and security. Let’s elaborate that to Apple!

We think our best chance of getting back in the App Store relies on YOU. User feedback matters to Apple, so let your voice be heard by signing our online petition at Change.org. Your signatures and comments will be sent directly to the folks at Apple for review, once we reach our signature goal.

We’re 100% confident that TrapCall is an invaluable privacy and security tool that not only deserves to be in the App Store, but deserves to win Apple’s respect for the positive impact it has on peoples lives. We just need your help opening Apple’s eyes to this fact.

If you’re interested in the details, here’s a complete rundown of TrapCall’s history with Apple, so you can better understand what we’ve been dealing with.

• March 2010: Development of our TrapCall iOS app officially begins.
• August 31, 2010: TrapCall is submitted to the Apple App Store. We pop champagne. We end up hearing nothing for over 3 months.
• December 8, 2010: We finally receive a callback from Apple’s developer relations, telling us their legal team requests more information about TrapCall and how the service operates legally.
• December 15, 2010: Our legal counsel sends the requested information to Apple’s legal team. We hear nothing for another 3 months.
• March 19, 2011: Out of nowhere, we receive an email that TrapCall has finally been approved for the App Store.
• March 31, 2011: TrapCall’s iOS app launches in the US App Store.
• January 5, 2012: TrapCall launches in Canada and we add the app to the Canadian App Store.
• February 15, 2012: We receive a call from Apple’s developer relations letting us know of updates we need to make to the TrapCall app and also that their legal team is now re-examining TrapCall. We immediately update the app, submit the update, and remove TrapCall from the Canadian App Store.
• April 2, 2012: Apple pulls TrapCall from the App Store.
• May 30, 2012: Rejected – Apps must comply with all legal requirements in any location where they are made available to users.
• July 10, 2012: Rejected — The app misleads users to think that it can block unwanted calls.
• July 31, 2012: Rejected — The app claims to “trick” and stop unwanted incoming calls. This functionality is not appropriate for the App Store.
• August 13, 2012: Rejected — The app misleads users to think that it can block incoming phone calls.
• August 28, 2012: Rejected — The app misleads users to think that it can block incoming phone calls.
• September 8, 2012: Rejected — We found that your app contains content – or facilitates, enables, or encourages an activity – that is not legal in all the locations in which the app is available and could be misleading to users, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines.

Even after all this, the good news is that we’re not giving up. Ever. We’ll continue to do everything we can to bring TrapCall back to the App Store, because we truly believe TrapCall is something every iPhone user should have the right to have access to.