This post contains information most relevant to Guidebook customers with branded app subscriptions. If you are a prospective customer, then please refer to this post.   To Our Valued Customers, I have some incredibly positive news to announce in regards to your Guidebook subscription. First, I’d like to provide a bit of context. In June of this year, Apple introduced an update to their App Review Guidelines, the criteria Apple employees use when deciding to accept (or reject) an app into the App Store. Included in their changes was the addition of section 4.2.6, which states, “Apps created from a commercialized template or app generation service will be rejected.” Guidebook and Apple have come to an agreement allowing Guidebook to continue to host your app(s) in the App Store. Furthermore, we will be able to update your app(s) (e.g. release new features, update branding elements) on an ongoing basis. As Guidebook’s technology powers tens of thousands of new mobile experiences each year, across many industries, and serves tens of millions of users, we regularly interface with Apple employees spanning multiple departments. We at Guidebook have been fortunate to leverage these relationships to engage in an ongoing and constructive dialogue about the future of the industry and to secure this allowance for our customers. We couldn’t be happier! Here are some important things for you to know:

1. Your app(s) will be considered ‘grandfathered’ or exempt from this new section of the App Store Guidelines.
2. If you’re considering publishing additional apps to the App Store, or believe you may have the need to do so in the future, then now is the time to act. Guidebook can continue to publish apps that will receive the ‘grandfathered’ status through the end of 2017. In order to guarantee your app is approved prior to the year’s end, we strongly encourage you to submit your app to the App Store by November 30.
3. If you choose to take your app down from the App Store, or if your subscription elapses, then your app will not be re-approved in its current state -- additional custom development will be required. Of course, we will be diligent about contacting you prior to your subscription’s termination date.
4. If you decide you want to create new mobile experiences come 2018, then Guidebook will still have you covered. We will be offering both a custom-built product offering and a branded offering within our flagship Guidebook App, which has won multiple awards and is used by millions.

As always, thank you for being a Guidebook customer. We look forward to continuing to serve you for many years to come!   Jeff Lewis, Founder and CEO, Guidebook