Hi all, Our app has been rejected several times without any clear explanation of what we need to do.
The latest rejection reason is as follows:
The app accesses digital content purchased outside the app, such as Tracker data plans, but that content isn't available to purchase using in-app purchase. Apps must use in-app purchase to unlock features or functionality within the app. Apps on the United States storefront may include buttons, external links, or other calls to action to direct users to payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase.
Next Steps
The paid digital content, services, or subscriptions included in or accessed by your app must be available for purchase in the app using only in-app purchase.
As noted above, apps on the United States storefront may include buttons, external links, or other calls to action to payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase. To learn more about the recent changes to the App Review Guidelines, see the News post on Apple Developer.
We plan to implement payments outside of IAP, and here is the business scenario of our app:
Our app is designed to control an external hardware device. However, the device has a built-in SIM card, so to use the device, a data plan must be activated for it to function properly. These data plans are used to pay mobile network operators.
Different data plans incur different fees and activate different hardware features of the device.
In addition, since the hardware device will only be linked to the app after successful activation, the control buttons in the app for managing the hardware remain disabled until activation is complete.
Therefore, we believe using non-IAP payments is justified under Guideline 3.1.4 – Hardware-Specific Content:
I have repeatedly explained these points to the App Review team, but they still rejected the submission. I have asked multiple times which specific details are considered violations of 3.1.1, but they have not provided any concrete explanation. They also have not clarified whether 3.1.4 is deemed inapplicable in our case.
Therefore, I am reaching out here for help. Thank you very much.
