Business Insider is reporting that the consumer version of Groupon has gone MIA on the iTunes store. While checking, the merchant version is still their however, the one users use isn’t. This while doesn’t make sense to some, actually does. Apple wants a cut from everything being used on their ecosystem. They built it, they should. However, Groupon while selling to customers directly on their website, or via the emails they sent out, unless have an understanding with Apple to give a kickback, are breaking the TOS.
For three separate editors on different computers and different networks, a search for “Groupon” brings up one app from Groupon LLC, but it’s the one for merchants, not the consumer-facing Groupon app.
Below is a screen shot of it missing the from iTunes store which Business Insider provided.
As more info comes on this we’ll make sure to update as things come along. But if indeed this is Apple flexing it’s power, what already is a rocky road for a company to never turn a profit, this’ll surely not help as a major downturn in their stocks is sure to follow.
Source: Business Insider