Apple didn't force in-app purchases on Wordpress

Apple has clarified the situation with the WordPress iOS app, apologizing for the mistake of blocking developer updates to the app until they added in-app purchases, despite the app not including any functionality involving payments.

On Friday, it was reported the lack of app updates for the WordPress app were due to it being "locked" on the App Store. After three weeks of absence, developers of the app had agreed to implement some form of in-app purchase to the app to enable updates to go through again, among other possible solutions.

In a statement provided to AppleInsider on Saturday, Apple claims the issue with the app has been "resolved" overnight.

"Since the developer removed the display of their service payment options from the app, it is now a free stand-alone app and does not have to offer in-app purchases," states Apple. "We have informed the developer and apologize for any confusion that we have caused."

At the time the block came to light, it was suggested the app was blocked because it was possible for users to see a page within the app's Help Center discussing upgrades to paid plans. This is in reference to WordPress.com's paid hosting offerings, which are managed from the website, not the app.

While the app itself doesn't offer any monetary transaction capabilities at all, it is believed the mention in the support page for the website version was a violation of App Store review guidelines.

The confusion surrounding in-app purchases arrives at a time when the App Store is facing intense scrutiny. Apple is currently facing antitrust investigations from regulators in the U.S. and Europe, while a public legal fight between Epic Games and Apple is also taking place.

21 Comments

elijahg 2822 comments · 18 Years

About 4 years ago

It’s an odd statement from Apple, to “apologise for any confusion caused” when there wasn’t any confusion, Apple is quite clear that it won’t allow references to an alternative form of payment for things that could be IAPs.

It seems that possibly in the face of current scrutiny, they have capitulated slightly on the application of their rules. They appear to have objected to help pages mentioning non-Apple payments that’re displayed in a web view. If Apple is going to start blocking apps that display non-IAP payment types in web views, surely Firefox and other browsers should be banned because they allows purchases through it on third party websites? This rule is a really slippery slope and could be widely interpreted to include almost any purchase on iOS.

Apple_Bar 134 comments · 5 Years

About 4 years ago

elijahg said:

It’s an odd statement from Apple, to “apologise for any confusion caused” when there wasn’t any confusion, Apple is quite clear that it won’t allow references to an alternative form of payment for things that could be IAPs.
It seems that possibly in the face of current scrutiny, they have capitulated slightly on the application of their rules. They appear to have objected to 1) help pages mentioning non-Apple payments that’re displayed in a web view. 2) If Apple is going to start blocking apps that display non-IAP payment types in web views, 3) surely Firefox and other browsers should be banned because they allows purchases through it on third party websites? This rule is a really slippery slope and could be widely interpreted to include almost any purchase on iOS.

1) Help pages, banners, etc... You can’t pretend to have a FREE app then direct iOS users to offers and upgrades at your .com store.

2) This isn’t NEW. There’s an agreement and they need to enforced it at all times.

3) You don’t get it, do you?

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

elijahg said:

If Apple is going to start blocking apps that display non-IAP payment types in web views, surely Firefox and other browsers should be banned because they allows purchases through it on third party websites? This rule is a really slippery slope and could be widely interpreted to include almost any purchase on iOS.

Nope.

Obviously, if what you were saying was true, then Apple would be collecting 30% of everything sold through the Amazon app, which they clearly don't. Firefox does not attempt to bypass the IAP scheme to sell versions of Firefox, so it's not breaking the rule. If Firefox tried to sell an upgrade to Firefox Pro without an IAP, then that would be a problem. If Firefox tried to sell an Firefox Cloud Services by putting a link that points to where you can buy the services then that would be a problem.

It won't be "widely interpreted" as anything different simply because thousands of apps already do it.

Rayz2016 6957 comments · 8 Years

About 4 years ago

And of course none of this stops the WordPress iOS/MacOS from being a showcase examples of why web-view cross-platform frameworks make pretty crappy apps.

svdmn 1 comment · 4 Years

About 4 years ago

What this article fails to mention that others have mention was that page referencing the .com plans had been removed weeks before.