wifi hotspot voucher via inapp puchase

Question

Created Jan ’16

Replies 3

Boosts 0

Participants 4

Hello everyone,

we were asked to develope an app for a telecommunication provider who want's to sell hotspot vouchers inside an app. I'm not sure if we have to use inapp purchase for selling those or if we must not.

Usecase:

a user who's not a customer of the telco provider want's to access the hotspot
the app offers him the possiblity to buy a voucher (one day hotspot usage)
this voucher can either be used instantly or be used on another device
- once used it is mac-adress bound
- (tentiative option) it can also be collected on terminals where you get the voucher printed (it's just a 16 digit code)

Reading the guidelines over an over I think we must not use InApp purchase, because the voucher might be used on another device and because it might be printed, which would be a physical good then?

I just want to be sure beforehand - would be embarissing to tell the client "it's ok to use a 3rd party payment solution" and the app being rejected then.

Hope someone can give me some more insight or maybe someone knows an app where this usecase is already used?

Regards,

John

Boost

Answer 1

bob133 OP

Jan ’16

Well, this is unfortunately one of the rough spots that a lot of developers have been going through. This part, though, is crystal clear:

developer.apple.com/app-store/review/guidelines/#purchasing-currencies

11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the App will be rejected.

Even if IAP is used to obtain an access code, the intent of the process is that you are paying for a physical service. Remember, app review is conducted by real people who understand what is actually happening when the app is used.

Where it gets tricky is in integrating other means of payment into your app. Depending on how it's implemented and how it handles users' personal information, the app stands a better or worse chance of being accepted, but, as far as I'm aware, you kind of have to wing it and see what App Review says.

If anyone else has more specific information, you're welcome to post it!

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Answer 2

KMT OP

Jan ’16

If the purchase allows use of the 'service' outside of the app (regardless if it's a coupon, hologram or handshake deal), IAP can't be used.

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Answer 3

PBK OP

Jan ’16

THe question is whether you can use IAP and also whether and how you can use a third party payment system.

Regarding the use of IAP - the voucher can be used on another device (I assume a non-iOS device) so the use of IAP would violate 11.3. You also seem to be selling a service that the user would use on the device but outside of their app to connect a different app to the wifi - again, an 11.3 problem.

REgarding the use of a third party payment system, that depends on how you interprete 11.2 which, although it might appear to be requiring IAP, is actually ruling out the use of a third party payment system. If 11.2 is interpreted as the "system ... purchase" may not be "in an App" then you may use a third party payment system as long as you direct your user to a website to make the purchase - not code a payment system within the app (for some direction on what you can and cannot do examine 11.14 which applies to a different product but similar circumstance). But if you interprete 11.2 as the "functionality or services" may not be "in the app" then you cannot allow the voucher to be used for wifi things within your app but it could allow the user to connect through wifi outside your app. No one has ever clarified this.

I Think you can use a third party system outside the app to purchase wifi connections as long as the app itself does not then benefit from the wifi connectivity.

note that your "physical good" is not your voucher and a guideline that says you may not use IAP does not therefore authorize the use of a third party payment system.

11.2 Apps utilizing a system other than the In-App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an App will be rejected
11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the App will be rejected

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