Apple SKY

The Next Web points to a recent thread in the Dropbox support forums revealing that a number of developers have been seeing their iOS apps with Dropbox integration being rejected by Apple. The apps have been rejected because users without the Dropbox iOS app installed on their devices who attempted to set up Dropbox integration were being redirected to a webpage where users could sign up for the service and purchase additional storage space.

That functionality runs afoul of Apple’s review guidelines, which do not allow signups for paid services other than those available through Apple’s In App Purchase to be accessible directly from the app. The rule makes it more difficult for creators of subscription and other paid content to avoid Apple’s 30% cut of In App Purchases.

As noted by MacStories, the Rule 11.13 Apple is citing in rejecting these application is not new, but developers running the Dropbox SDK version 1.2.1 which offered a way for users to get to paid signup pages were just recently beginning to experience issues with App Store review. As cited in one rejection notice sent to a developer:

11.13

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.

For its part, Dropbox has moved quickly to address the issue on an interim basis, rolling out a new SDK version 1.2.2 that eliminates access to both account signups and paid subscription packages directly from apps with Dropbox integration. In terms of a longer-term solution, Dropbox reported to The Verge that it is “working with Apple to come up with a solution that still provides an elegant user experience.”

Based on comments from Dropbox representatives in the developer support thread, it appears the company would at a minimum like to have a way for new users to create free Dropbox accounts so that they can be used in association with the Dropbox-enabled apps using the SDK. Dropbox appears to be very willing to make sure users signing up through this mechanism are not provided with a means to sign up for additional paid storage capacity, thereby avoiding the primary Apple’s primary objection to mechanism circumventing In App Purchasing.

Apple trying to get 30% of everything in the universe is getting tiresome.

Good. Developers should be implementing iCloud into their apps, not getting stuck in the past.

Dropbox is a much more versatile cloud storage solution than iCloud. I have 20+GB of free storage through referrals and I can store all my most important documents and work files on there no matter what file type they are. It also provides an easy way to share those files. How is that stuck in the past?

And this is good for users how?

And how would that help you share documents with your co-workers? Oh yeah they would have to be on icloud as well. Not all businesses choose Apple services because not all Apple services are the best.

Good. Developers should be implementing iCloud into their apps, not getting stuck in the past.

This sucks. Dropbox integrated apps are invaluable for those needing productivity outside Apple’s walled garden. iFiles and DropVox are only the first two I can think of.

Some of us don’t want icloud.

If I couldn’t integrate to my dropbox account via goodreader etc I’d sell my ipad and get an android tablet. Simple as.

And dropbox is not even in competition with any of the service that Apple provides now…. well they had iDisk but no more.:D

It’s Apple getting back at Dropbox for turning down their 800 million dollar offer :p

I really wish Apple and Dropbox could have worked something out. Dropbox is amazing. I literally wish my entire hard drive was Dropbox’d haha

Currently at 13GB though, which isn’t too shabby! If I knock out the remaining 23 referrals, I could be up to 24.5GB

What a bunch of little Hitlers.

I can’t believe Apple is trying to eliminate Dropbox like this. I’d use iCloud if it wasn’t so freakin’ buggy.