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Comment by outworlder | Hacker News Reader

EDIT: Having deployed a few apps in the past which required login and not being harassed, I thought something else was going on.

This seems to be an unspoken policy change. I'm joining the outrage bandwagon now.

> What's infuriating is Apple's inconsistency. Some apps offer subscriptions outside of the app store and are still there (including Basecamp!)

That doesn't violate guidelines. Unless your app takes users outside of the app store to purchase stuff(including the subscription itself) without in app purchases.

Having an app requiring login is ok. It doesn't matter that the login is protecting a paid service.

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To clarify, Hey does provide only a login, and no outside linking (or reference to outside payment, as Apple requires). Apple is now requiring that in-app-purchases must exist for "consumer apps" that aren't "readers", based on a changed interpretation of existing rules. If the above sounds ambiguous to anyone reading this, that's the issue.

>Unless your app takes users outside of the app store to purchase stuff(including the subscription itself) without in app purchases.

Where did Hey take users outside of the app?

'Hey' itself may not be doing this right now, I don't know. I was referring to:

> 3.1.1 In-App Purchase:

    If you want to unlock features or functionality within your app, (by way of example: subscriptions, in-game currencies, game levels, access to premium content, or unlocking a full version), you must use in-app purchase. Apps may not use their own mechanisms to unlock content or functionality, such as license keys, augmented reality markers, QR codes, etc. Apps and their metadata may not include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct customers to purchasing mechanisms other than in-app purchase.

This isn’t true for most of the OTT streaming cable TV apps. They all require subscriptions.

There’s a special clause for this type of ”reader” apps and it allows external subscriptions.

”3.1.3(a) “Reader” Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video, access to professional databases, VoIP, cloud storage, and approved services such as classroom management apps), provided that you agree not to directly or indirectly target iOS users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, and your general communications about other purchasing methods are not designed to discourage use of in-app purchase.”

Looks like for example Netflix app does even show a link to their registration page. You can only login to existing account.

Hmm...I thought Netflix on an iPhone told you that you had to go to the website to actually sign up.

I don't have one to test it though.

> Unless your app takes users outside of the app store to purchase stuff(including the subscription itself) without in app purchases

Hey doesn't do this and DHH was very explicit in the many steps they took not to step on this rule.

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