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Apple rejects apps using Dropbox because of external payments option

By Daniel Petrov

Published: May 02, 2012, 3:04 AM

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Apple rejects apps using Dropbox because of external payments option

Apple is pretty adamant that nothing that gets into its app ecosystem uses methods of payment that circumvent its own 30% cut, so recently it turned out that Cupertino has started rejecting apps using Dropbox.

The thing is that if the user doesn't have the Dropbox app installed, then the authorization for purchase of additional storage goes through Safari, which might eventually allow them to do it directly on Dropbox's website, if he or she chooses the desktop version option.

This, according to Apple, would constitute "sending user to an additional purchase", a punishable offense. A developer received letter of rejection from Apple for this exact same reason, stating:

We found that your app provides access to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines. Specifically, your app enables to user to create accounts with Dropbox and Google.

Reports are that Dropbox is working actively with Apple to remedy this issue. The Financial Times recently reported a big success of its HTML5 app that circumvents Apple's 30% subscription fee cut, so we might see a lot of publishers choose that route in the future.

source: Dropbox via TNW

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.