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Is it possible to have a free iPhone app that has say an initial 3 month ability to chat, and then after the 3 months has expired the user purchases a non-renewable subscription for additional chat time? E.G. for one month, four months, or one year? Specifically I am asking is it OK in a free app to have functionality that initially works, but after a fixed period of time no longer works unless you pay?

With Mac apps one can have a trial period. See this link. So I would think one could do the same for iPhone apps. Although in the past before InAppPurchase was available, I know this trial period behavior for iPhone apps was frowned upon.

I haven't been able to get any clarification via Google, so does anyone know if having a trial period for chat with a free iPhone app is OK or not?

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James Testa
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It should be fine to do this since there are plenty of apps out there that are free but required payment for certain uses. What Apple will require is that all payments go through their payment system to get their cut.

rooster117
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  • I just had an app approved that allows for free use for 3 months and then a subscription afterwards. So I think you are correct. – James Testa Sep 13 '12 at 15:50
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In app purchases and trial runs?

or

http://www.submitiphoneapps.com/app-store-submission-tips/ (read section 'Just Right “Lite”')

not authoritative i would say, but something.

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Joris Weimar
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  • Whatever content or functionality you give the user you can't take back seems to be a common theme. Although in Mac apps you can have a trial period and then the app stops working. So, its still not clear to me if having a trial period for iOS apps is OK. – James Testa Jun 16 '12 at 20:18
  • https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2713512?start=0&tstart=0 another guy talking about this. he seems to think it's not possible. maybe you can contact him, see where he gets his knowledge from. – Joris Weimar Jun 20 '12 at 15:08