Apple rejecting iOS apps that use Dropbox SDK

Computerworld - Developers using the software development kit of cloud storage vendor Dropbox are having their iOS apps rejected by Apple.

According to Dropbox, Apple is rejecting the apps because the SDK includes a "Desktop version" of its website for creating accounts that could allow users to purchase additional storage space outside of the app.

"Apple is rejecting apps that use the Dropbox SDK because we allow users to create accounts. We're working with Apple to come up with a solution that still provides an elegant user experience," Dropbox said in a statement today.

Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Computerworld.

Developers on Dropbox's online forum were quick to decry the rejections.

A Dropbox user identified as Goran Daemon P. wrote that the reason Apple rejected his iOS app was that "the user does not have [the] Dropbox application installed [so] then the linking authorization is done through Safari (as per latest SDK)."

"Once the user is in Safari, it is possible for the user to click 'Desktop version' and navigate to a place on Dropbox's site where it is possible to purchase additional space," he wrote. "Apple views this as 'sending user to an additional purchase' which is against rules."

A reply to Goran from Apple on its iTunes Connect site stated that his app provided access to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, "which is not in compliance with the Apple Store Review Guidelines."

Lucas Mearian covers storage, disaster recovery and business continuity, financial services infrastructure and health care IT for Computerworld. Follow Lucas on Twitter at @lucasmearian or subscribe to Lucas's RSS feed . His e-mail address is lmearian@computerworld.com.

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