NDrive GPS App Disappears From Apple App Store, Kill Switch The Culprit?

It's been a long while since Apple's Kill Switch was brought up. That would mostly be because Apple hasn't had any reason to use it (whether that's a good thing or bad thing probably depends on your take of the approval process, mostly). But, according to a new report released today, it looks like that may have changed. Several customers are reporting that the application called NDrive, which was developed by a small team to be a GPS alternative.

The application itself went for $2.99 in the App Store, and it provided upwards of 1.8GB of US map data. However, it sounds like people didn't have long to download it, or enjoy it for that matter, before the application itself was pulled from the App Store. And then subsequently pulled from customer's iPhones as well. It's also disappearing from people's Macs and PCs, too. Which would make sense. As soon as you sync your iPhone to iTunes, after the app has been remotely wiped, it would also delete the file from iTunes as well.

NDrive's customer service had this to say about it:

"It has recently come to our attention that customers are experiencing difficulties with our iPhone navigation applications. Accordingly, NDrive acknowledges that our software listed in the Apple iTunes Store have been dissolved until further notice. We are currently working to address and improve the situation in an efficient manner. This issue has been assigned a maximum urgency level as we cannot inquire on the duration of our void from said markets. We are attentively listening and working hard to address all inquisitions submitted."

As you can tell from their reaction, they are just as surprised as everyone else. They don't give a reason as to why the pull would have happened, let alone a time when it may get fixed. Customers on forums are reporting the same thing, such as those on Apple Discussions, saying that the app was on their device, but now it's just gone. And considering that NDrive isn't the only GPS application available on the iPhone, or within the App Store proper, we're not sure why Apple would choose now, or this app, to pull that lever. If you've downloaded NDrive, and think you still have it on your iPhone, let us know in the comments if you've experienced the same thing.

[via Razorian Fly]