Wired reports that several iPhone app sites, including TheiPhoneAppReview.com and AppCraver.com are accepting fees from developers. In most cases, the sites charge a fee for “expediting” the review, but some developers claim the sites required payment before they would review their apps at all.
“They prey on people who need exposure,” said developer Oliver Cameron. “It strikes me as a paid ad, really. They never seem to actually ‘review’ it.”
Shaun Campbell, editor-in-chief at The iPhone App Review, defended the company’s practices, saying, “The iPhone App Review is not a PR charity. We’re a business, and like in any business, there are costs that need to be recovered.”