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Apple blocking Dropbox SDK over in-app buying

Storm brews over cloud storage fine-print

Developers using the latest Dropbox cloud storage SDK have been having applications rejected from Apple after Cupertino apparently decided that its terms and conditions have been breached.

"We have found your app provides access to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, which is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines. Specifically, this app contains a link that takes the user to Dropbox via Safari," numerous developers reported, with one posting his correspondence online.

According to the correspondence, Apple is taking umbrage at having a link to the Dropbox website where users can sign up for an account. The basic Dropbox service is free, although there are paid options available for higher amounts of storage, and it's these that appear to be causing the problems.

"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," the company told The Register in a statement.

Forum posts suggest that older versions of the Dropbox SDK may be good to go as far as Apple's concerned. Dropbox employee Brian S. has posted a workaround.

"You need to use this version of the SDK that removes the create account option," he posted. "We're working on a better solution and will have more to share about that next week."

The fuss is certainly not what Dropbox needs right now. The company is under pressure from similar cloud offerings and needs all the application support it can get. ®

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