FIERCEMOBILE CONTENT – Dec 2 - Apple has removed Match.com's iOS application from its App Store after the dating site failed to adhere to the storefront's subscription billing policies. It enabled users to pay for Match subscriptions with a credit card using an external link, bypassing the App Store's billing mechanisms and denying Apple its 30% cut of subscriptions and content sold via iOS apps. Apple and Match.com are currently in talks on how to revamp the app to meet the App Store's guidelines.
by Jason Ankeny
The full article was originally published at FierceMobile Content, but is no longer available.
This is why you speak to Apple before releasing your app. They can and WILL nuke you out of their ecosystem for any infractions. This is not the first time I’ve seen people thinking the coast is clear when they get approved for publishing. That first pass doesn’t catch everything and you can get scrutinized closely even when you are live. Keep working with your Apple rep to ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises.
I know the dating industry loves to push the limits of how they monetize and sometimes go into those gray zones. Just remember, you are now in Apple’s system and if you push them, they’ll simply cut you off. This isn’t Mastercard, Visa or Paypal. It doesn’t matter how much volume you push through them, if you screw with their customer experience then you simply won’t get to play anymore.
This is why you speak to Apple before releasing your app. They can and WILL nuke you out of their ecosystem for any infractions. This is not the first time I’ve seen people thinking the coast is clear when they get approved for publishing. That first pass doesn’t catch everything and you can get scrutinized closely even when you are live. Keep working with your Apple rep to ensure you don’t get any nasty surprises.
I know the dating industry loves to push the limits of how they monetize and sometimes go into those gray zones. Just remember, you are now in Apple’s system and if you push them, they’ll simply cut you off. This isn’t Mastercard, Visa or Paypal. It doesn’t matter how much volume you push through them, if you screw with their customer experience then you simply won’t get to play anymore.
match.com app has been around for years and this rule is only a few months old.
match.com app has been around for years and this rule is only a few months old.
I wonder why they failed to subscribe billing policies.
I wonder why they failed to subscribe billing policies.