I have created an application which allows user to promote their event in their region.
And for promote their event the user need to buy the IAP based on their requirement.
For promotion purpose : I need to provide the Free IAP which act as user can promote their event to certain km or miles.
So my question is could I able to integrate the Free Subscription option which provided by Apple.
Note : As per the guideline of IAP for Free Subscription, the application should be type of magazine or newsstand, but my application is not fulfil this clause.
So is there any chance that Apple can reject my application.
Sorry for the long question but I did not get any valuable information from Google that's why I have to explain my requirement so other colleague can have a better idea for that.
Thanks in advance.
Better to ask this question on Apple Developer Forum where their developer can review their question and accordingly respond it.
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I'm implementing IAP for SaaS application. I nearly finished with Store Kit's integration, receipt validation and other development related stuff. But I still have 2 more questions regarding Apple's guidelines which I couldn't find answer to on the docs.
The first question: I read on few places on the web that my app should provide minimum functionality even if the user is not subscribed. I offer a SaaS app and I don't want the user to be able to use the app if he's not subscribed. I will allow him to purchase a subscription if he is not subscribed. Is it enough for minimum functionality? (I suspect that these minimum functionality restrictions are old and obsolete, as they sound absurd).
The second question: I want to offer the user a possibility to try the app for free without subscribing at all (Without Store Kit's Free Trial option), because I don't want make the user make a commitment to pay before he tried the app (Apple also doesn't provide a convenient way to cancel the subscription, which may cause abandon-users to be charged even if they don't use the app, which will cause bad reviews etc). So the question is, can I do this without risking my app to get rejected? Does apple allow such kind of Free Trial feature which is managed solely by my server?
Forgive me if this info is somewhere on Apple's docs, but I couldn't find anything related. Thanks!
Okay after sending a query to Apple (Which didn't help me much to understand) and submitting an app to the App Store, I may have an answer:
Apple do allow SaaS apps and did approved my SaaS app. I honestly don't know if they checked my app enough to tell if it is okay but it was approved.
My app implements the Free Trial mechanism without App Store's free trial option. It is clearly written on the registration view controller that the app offers 3 month of free usage without obligation, and then continues without popping and App Store free trial page or something. My app was approved so I guess it is actually okay and within Apple's guidelines.
Hope it'll somehow help someone.
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My app is rejected from Apple appstore due to metadata. Why did they reject my app?
What I got from Apple:
1 Performance: App Completeness Guideline 2.1 - Information Needed
We have started the review of your app, but we are not able to
continue because we need additional information about your app.
Next Steps
To help us proceed with the review of your app, please review the
following questions and provide as much detailed information as you
can.
Does your app access any paid content or services?
What are the paid content or services, and what are the costs?
Do individual customers pay for the content or services?
If no, does a company or organization pay for the content or services?
Where do they pay, and what's the payment method?
If users create an account to use your app, are there fees involved?
How do users obtain an account?
Once you reply to this message in Resolution Center with the requested
information, we can proceed with your review.
Since your App Store Connect status is Metadata Rejected, we do NOT
require a new binary. To revise the metadata, visit App Store Connect
to select your app and revise the desired metadata values. Once you’ve
completed all changes, reply to this message in Resolution Center and
we will continue the review.
Your app is fine and this is standard apple behaviour. What happening is apple is trying to intimidate you in order to get their share of potential in app payments. It doesn't matter if you charge for your app or not you will receive this apple store reject after a while. Review the app store guidelines and try to answer the questions to best fit into the guidelines.
reply to this message in Resolution Center
Just answer those questions in Resolution Center would be enough from your end.
revise the desired metadata values.
Check if there is any changes are required in app store app info section, then make those changes and you are good to go.
After that apple will continue the review.
Nothing at all except that you'll have to provide details regarding Pricing and availability.
Fill out all the details in "Pricing and Availability" page in general tab left hand side menu in Appstore.
If you don't have any pricing services and products. Select USD 0.0 (free) in price schedule option in same page. Just like in screenshot and
Availability
Just answer the questions they asked.
They asked such question because they must found some payment related things inside your app.
- Does your app access any paid content or services?
Ans. No. or if any then write yes.
- What are the paid content or services, and what are the costs?
Ans. No paid Content. or if any then describe it.
- Do individual customers pay for the content or services?
Ans. No. if any then describe it.
- If no, does a company or organization pay for the content or services?
Ans. Describe how you provide content in app paid or free.
- Where do they pay, and what's the payment method?
Ans. no payment needed. or describe if any like offline.
- If users create an account to use your app, are there fees involved?
Ans. no.
- How do users obtain an account?
Ans. describe the process of registration like offline, using sign up or through website etc.
After you are done, resubmit your app.
Case:
Our iOS app offers selling of custom made recipe packages that would be created for each user specifically. For example - user buys package of recipes, but for each user this package would be created individually, based on users preferences and needs, by someone from the app team. This package should be created in 5 days for example. If app team fails to create this package and deliver to end user in 5 days, automatic refund should be triggered and end user should receive money back that he spent on this in app purchase, thus invalidating purchased custom package.
Problem:
Is this kind of scenario even possible in Apple / iOS world? Can app developer trigger refund process of one specific purchase that end user made? If user isn't satisfied with specific purchase, could app developer trigger this is refund process if he has reference to transaction receipt?
P.S. We aren't really selling custom recipe packages, this was just an example scenario to help to understand this refund scenario case. ;)
EDIT:
If such scenario isn't possible via Apple refund, are there some examples of this kind of purchase model, implemented in some other way? It's hard to wrap my mind that only way for end user to get refund for something is to write Apple and that also needs to be done by user itself.
If you get paid using Apple services (in-app purchases) then NO, it isn't possible for an Apple Developer (business or individual) to refund App Store customers.
The only option is to direct customers to iTunes Store Customer Support as officially stated in the iTunes Connect screenshot below:
To increase the chances for your customers in getting refunded you could provide them with an e-mail stating that you would like them to receive a refund which they could show to the iTunes Support employee.
As a colleague stated, an option would be to use an external payment processor like PayPal which would allow you to manage refunds, but I think this will greatly increase the work needed since you will need to manage almost everything regarding payments on your own.
Also note that this option is highly restricted by Apple to only physical services or goods and sometimes Apple does not approve apps providing services through third-party payment processors. So.. you should be very careful what path you choose to take.
If the recipes you're providing to your customers are in digital format and users receive them in your app, you can be 100% sure that Apple will force you to use the in-app purchase system.
If such scenario isn't possible via Apple refund, are there some
examples of this kind of purchase model, implemented in some other
way?
In some cases you can use payment through PayPal (for example). We did it in our application where we had to take money of users and return it after a certain period. Check if you case is suitable for using third-party payment systems. Because (for example) Apple will restrict your app if you want to sell in-game content via Paypal, not with in-app purchase.
One very simple alternative would be to have your users buy virtual currency in your app that they can then spend on their recipe-package-orders. Since you are managing their virtual currency account balance, you can easily refund, give volume-discounts, etc. as you please. The only thing that will still be hard then is to have users return their virtual currency to get back their actual money.
There is no api for allowing users to refund a purchase (otherwise guess what can happen).
More info here
I am looking for clarification of what type of In-App purchase would the following fall under according to Apple (https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/StoreKitGuide/Chapters/Products.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40008267-CH2-SW2):
A monthly video subscription service that delivers rich content only available on the application.
Do I need to offer the ability to restore purchases? If a user subscribes in March is it okay to give full access historically? If a user joins, cancels and joins, can the history cover the gap? Reading the documentation it is not very clear.
Yes, you need the ability to restore a purchase.
The rest is a business decision and is entirely up to you. Apple may quibble if you don't make what you're selling clear but the details are yours to decide.
I'm building an app that will provide users with an evolving directory of companies in their local area (location-based) that manufacture green/sustainable products. I want companies to be able to add themselves to the app by purchasing a subscription using in-app purchase. This would be a 1 year subscription.
Just read this in the iOS Standard Agreement: 2.3 Content and services may be offered through the In-App Purchase API on a subscription basis (e.g., subscriptions to newspapers and magazines). Rentals of content, services or functionality through the In-App Purchase API are not allowed (e.g., use of particular content may not be restricted to a pre-determined, limited period of time).
If the service is only for a year, does this preclude me from doing the above? Anybody have any insight on any of this? I'd appreciate your input - I can't get any info from Apple. Thanks.
My guess is that you are not allowed to do that. As you really cannot restrict who subscribes for a year – it might be any user – you probably cannot offer this. The IAP doesn't provide any content or service to the user other that a listing. As you probably need an external data source (e.g. a web application) I would suggest moving the subscription there. This is just my opinion and I am no lawyer so I might be completely wrong here.
You can do it. See the image below. You just have to choose the right option.
You can find it itunesConnect in the app detail section.
For your case I suggest Consumable is appropriate and have to maintain a check that wether its been a year or not since the last magazine purchase or what so ever your scenario is.