I had an idea for an app and within that app I would like to offer clients the chance to have their own screen. I would like to charge a small fee for development and maintenance of that screen of perhaps a few $'s per year. My question is. Can I charge using paypal or does it have to be through Google market billing?. If it is market billing then can I get around it by charging for an external html doc that is drawn in via custom url or would that still be seen as in app? Any help would be great. Thanks

Hey @Mr stuck, I'm not an expert on this but I believe I can share a few thoughts. I don't understand why you cannot charge for using the screen. The screen is part of the App and if you state this in the terms and conditions, then you should have no problems. If you are billing within the App, then you should be able to use paypal, but I would not charge to use paypal. With that being said, I would just make up the difference in your charges, since you don't charge to use paypal, but make your services a little higher. I hope this makes sense. LA

Apple might take issue. They pretty clearly state that if the purchase enhances the use of the app (e.g., adding additional features), it needs to go through their in-app purchase module. You could set up a PayPal option on your website, but wouldn't be able to link to that from within the app.

What @Chris1 said. From Apple's review guidelines: 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.

Hi all, I am quite new to this but i believe its possible...i just bought movie tickets from my local cinema and check out this link. I thought they only had the mobile app for android but turns out there's an iPhone app as well http://www.gsc.com.my/html/default.aspx?GPID=5&ID=75&PID=83 Cheers, Mickey

Yes, but the difference is that movie tickets don't change the app experience. Adding a new screen would.

Ok my apologies. I didnt fully understand the new screen part.

So if I create a html page (aka webpage) and host it somewhere and charge them for it then I am going against purchase rules? Isn't that like saying "you pay someone else to host your website so it can't be displayed in the app" this would render custom url almost useless would it not?. Thanks for the info. Perhaps Google should get the finger out and create an easier way to add in app billing than the abundance of code required currently.

From what I understand (in the Apple world at least): You *must* use the In App Purchase function to "unlock" items in the app. So unlocking pages or screens would apply here. You *must not* use In App Purchase for real world purchases - like services and tickets. To me this means that you can use PayPal for this as long as it is outside of the App in a web browser window. The one app I've had approved so far has a "Donate" link that went to PayPal in Safari. Note that "Donate" is a tricky issue with Apple. I hope this helps, (and I hope I'm getting this right!) -William

Remember, Apple will take 30% of the proceeds. PayPal will take 3% (which is still a lot). If you want a shopping system, then probably the best is to create an E-Commerce shopping site which you redirect to. This way, you get 100% of proceeds, but the code for E-Commerce sites are tricky. I have made a website with E-Commerce in it, and I could see if I can get the code for this, if you want.

Thanks. Just to clarify. I was going to offer a map based app that clients can add themselves to for free. I was going to offer them the option of having an enhanced pin by having their own screen created with images etc. The "screen" option seems out if the question due to in app billing which leaves only the option to have their own html page created and drawn in via custom url or simply by launch native browser function. The part I would charge for then would be a html page creation and hosting on webserver or dropbix etc so i would not be charging for an app billing"screen" the charge would be for the creation and maintenance of the external hosted document that is launched via native browser or through custom url screen. Do you think this will be outwith the billing channels?

It should be fine the way you described it, but who knows what the Apple reviewer will say. Some are picky from what others say. You might want to consider sucking it up and paying the 30% though, if native creates a much better user experience. You will probably get many more sales that way. Perhaps 30% more even (well, technically speaking, you would need almost 39% more sales to cover the 27% (30%-3% Paypal) decrease in revenue)

The problem I have is that I can only do android at the moment as don't have a mac and Google billing is something I can't add as too much code. Otherwise I would have no problem with the 30%.