Direct Carrier Billing

Question

Created Jun ’15

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Dear Sirs,

We are currently developing a gaming app for one of our clients that includes direct carrier billing as an in app purchase method . (for game level, or to unblock a premium feature of your app)

and this game are for an Carrier to promote one of there pre paid plans

so only users with this plan are allow to purchase

and it's multi platform (Facebook, iOS, Android) so we need to use the Direct Carrier Billing API provided with our client (the Carrier) to make the validation for the line plan and make the purchase.

As per the highlighted points of guideline 11 from development guidelines;

· 11.1

Apps that unlock or enable additional features or functionality with mechanisms other than the App Store will be rejected

· 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

· 11.13

Apps that link to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the App, such as a "buy" button that goes to a web site to purchase a digital book, will be rejected

· 11.14

Apps can read or play approved content (specifically magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video and cloud storage) that is subscribed to or purchased outside of the App, as long as there is no button or external link in the App to purchase the approved content. Apple will only receive a portion of revenues for content purchased inside the App

i'd like to clarify the below;

- Does the direct carrier billing go under the restriction of point 11.2 ?

If yes, what are the procedures needed to be able to put that gaming app on the apple store?

- Will the app fall under any of the above categorization ?

If yes, what are the procedures needed to be able to put that gaming app on the apple store?

Your clarification will be highly appreciated and will help us provide better service 🙂 .

Awaiting your feedback,

Regards,

Boost

Answer 1

gunjiira OP

Jul ’15

From experience, Apple does not allow and will reject all games using any form of third party payment method. Usually this also includes any form of indirect methods, e.g. using existing paid users login to get through paywalls (rule 11.1). Apple is strict in enforcing the exceptions under rule 11.14 and from experience, they will not allow any games as exceptions, even if they are partly similar to the categories listed there.

Additionally, limiting access to certain types of users, e.g. prepaid plan subscribers will also cause a rejection under guideline 2.22.

This unfortunately makes it close to impossible to over premium content ingame exclusive to certain users.

Seriously, save yourself the trouble and explain to your client that Apple makes these rules. If they do not believe you, try finding a single game in the App Store that does DCB or third-party billing - there are none!

For contracted game development, you guys should make the choice early on if you are aiming for revenue or promotion. If it is the later, you could ask users to share a certain message "Check out this game from my favorite Carrier" through their social channels (twitter, FB) to unlock levels.

I hope that helps...

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