Why Apple considers a real person-to-person service as digital just because it's not "real-time"?

Question

satek OP

Created May ’23

Replies 2

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App store said that our app MUST use IAP for person to person servises because they are not "real-time":

Regarding guideline 3.1.1, we continued to notice that the not in real time consults in the app can be purchased in the app using payment mechanisms other than in-app purchase.

In our app we allow user to ask a question and get an answer from our expert (real person) with non-IAP payment mechanism. Expert may answer some time later (for example in an hour) so this seems as non-real-time communication with user.

How "non-real-time" feature makes a person-to-person service digital?

From App Store Review Guidelines:

3.1.3(d) Person-to-Person Services: If your app enables the purchase of real-time person-to-person services between two individuals (for example tutoring students, medical consultations, real estate tours, or fitness training), you may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase to collect those payments. One-to-few and one-to-many real-time services must use in-app purchase.

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Answer 1

NordanArt OP

May ’23

Yes, there was a similar situation. It is useless to argue with them here, they once tried, but they find flaws and loopholes everywhere, and there were situations that they missed it 1 time, and then the next update, the same question again, so we just let go of this situation and use IAP, at least this is a minus for us... But you can try to write to the support of the Review, not the forum, and argue with them already, as this may turn out to be more useful

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Answer 2

satek OP

May ’23

Apple's answer:

Regarding guideline 3.1.3(d), while we understand that users can message real specialists, the conversation is not done in real time. Guideline 3.1.3(d) says that “real-time person-to-person services between two individuals (for example tutoring students, medical consultations, real estate tours, or fitness training)” are exempt of the in-app purchase requirement, however, unlocking the ability to message another person is still considered a digital service where in-app purchase is required. Asynchronous text-based person-to-person services (where a user leaves messages and receives replies back at a later time from a real person) are not considered real-time services, thus in-app purchases are required. To resolve this issue, it would be appropriate to revise your app and implement the in-app purchase API.

They consider us getting money for allowing user to unblock chatting with expert and consider it as a digital service.

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