Android/iPhone mobile payments - iphone

I am developing some kind of digital membership cards system that needs to replace current plastic one. I would need to provide the user with the possibility to buy membership card directly within the application and therefore need some mobile payment option. I am developing this for both Android and iOS platforms so some web service or API would be the best solution. I have looked a bit around and the things I have found are:
Paypal Mobile: https://personal.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/?cmd=_render-content&content_ID=marketing_us/mobile_payments
DIBS Mobile: http://www.dibspayment.com/products/internet/add-on_packages/mobile/
Just push me in the right direction or give me some idea :)
Regardz,
Mladjo

Both Google and Apple require you to use their own payment systems within apps. So:
You will not be able to use a common payment system for both Android and iPhone.
While Google does not allow third party payment systems, Apple at the moment kinda tolerates them, but requires you to also use their iTunes in-app payment system, so you will have to implement both.

This is the response from PP support team regarding Android distribution agreement and 3rd party payment processor implementation.
So android cannot prevent you from
selling in app purchases of any type,
weather digital or otherwise. The
distribution Agreement from the
Android Marketplace does however
mention the following:
"However, if you want to collect fees
after the free trial expires, you must
collect all fees for the full version
of the Product through the Payment
Processor on the Market"
This would mean that you must use the
Android Marketplace payment processor
to upgrade from a free trial. As your
application does not technically fall
under this category you would not be
breaking the Distro agreement. To be
100% sure on this you would need to
contact Android about this. Also
please note that the distribution
agreement does not extend past the
Android Marketplace, for example the
AppBrain market is not effected by
this.
I would like to point out that PayPal
have approved a large number of
applications for use of the MPL that
are live on the Android Marketplace at
the moment.

Related

Payment Methods In iPhone App?

I have an iPhone app where I have a list of items to be sold. For the payment of these items, I have a web service on my sponsor's server that needs to be utilized by sending certain parameters such as amount, userid, discount coupons etc. So should I invoke this in a web view inside the application or should it be invoked in the web-browser? The sponsorer wants to show a message as payment successful or not in the application after everything is done. this information comes from the server itself. But if I invoke the browser i will not be able to track this information about payment successful or not? What should I do? Please help me with this
This is particularly interesting with regards to iOS as it gives app developers a fairly easy way to implement an alternative payment solution to the App Store, something that doesn’t infringe on Apple’s in-app purchasing policy if the goods being sold are physical not digital. It’s this scenario that Adyen is targeting.
As for the payment method itself, it accepts credit cards, PayPal and a range of other payments within mobile applications (native apps) and mobile websites. Of course, offering a HTML (browser-based) version of an app or service rather than a dedicated iOS app is another way of bypassing Apple’s cut.
Other benefits of Adyen’s payment platform is that merchants and developers can take advantage of a “fully integrated service that removes the burden of security and PCI compliance”, says the company. In addition, app developers can “skin” the mobile payment and checkout process, gaining control of the look and feel, which is said to be an important driver for increased conversion rates.
Merchants already using the new mobile payment platform include Pathe, the largest chain of cinemas in the Europe, via its iPhone app, and Greetz, the online greetings card retailer.

Which PayPal iPhone SDK should I use?

I want to make an app that lets a vendor sell gift cards through the app to the vendor's store. Does anyone know which PayPal SDK I would use?
I'm hoping for guidance based on experience here, which is easiest to work with and simplest.
Also does anyone know if there's a paypal alternative with an SDK?
Thanks!
Following on from my comment above, the rules are not clear and are therefore open to interpretation (and Apple's interpretation always supersedes anyone else's)
11.2 Apps utilizing a system other than the In App Purchase API (IAP) to purchase content, functionality, or services in an app will be rejected
A gift card could be interpreted as a service, PayPal interpreted as a system other than IAP
11.3 Apps using IAP to purchase physical goods or goods and services used outside of the application will be rejected
Therefore you can't use IAP's to purchase your gift cards
11.13 Apps that link to external mechanisms for purchases or subscriptions to be used in the app, such as a “buy” button that goes to a web site to purchase a digital book, will be rejected
Here external mechanism could easily refer to alternate payment providers, so that rules out using PayPal.
As you mention giftcards, the following clause may also be relevant as a gift card could be interpreted as a credit or even a virtual currency
11.4 Apps that use IAP to purchase credits or other currencies must consume those credits within the application

Custom in-app billing for avoiding Android/iTunes transactions fees

We are planning a new application development for iPhone and Android devices. The application would be published in both markets (Android Market and Apple's App Store) and its download would be free.
Nevertheless, the application would have some items that can be purchased by the user. The easiest way would be to integrate each version with its corresponding billing system: Android In-App Billing and the Apple iTunes Billing System.
Is there a way for avoiding the 30% transaction fee from the billing systems? Can a developer use a custom in-app billing system for its application? Is there a disclaimer policy for Android or iPhone when using other in-app bill systems for avoiding their transaction fees? What are the options a developer has for providing an in-app item purchase within his application?
Many thanks!
We've developed several applications that transport users to a web page payment portal contained within the application.
Apple have seemed fine with this approach, in one particular application we had implemented both In-App purchasing and a custom payment portal - they asked us to remove In-App purchasing as the app was selling deal/vouchers and they classed this as virtual product.... they didn't reject anything about our custom payment portal.
Potentially they could pull all apps that do this at any point they feel like it, although I don't see this as a likely scenario.
Since both Android Market and Apple's App Store terms of service prohibit what you're asking for, the answer is a simple: no, there is no way to avoid the transaction fees (and still remain within the terms of service).
You're also asking about a disclaimer policy -- if you mean for your product, you should disclaim to your users that your app could get removed from its respective market at any time, without any notice (if you decide to implement billing that subverts the market).

Is it possible to publish application in AppStore which will accept credit card payments?

My company provides eCommerce solution for our customers. We host their web site where their customers buy some stuff. Our eCommerce solution takes their credit card information and processes it via payment gateway.
Now we want to create iPhone app for our customers somewhat duplicating functionality of their web sites. Similar to what Amazon.com app does. Provide native interface to browse items and then have ability to purchase them (again, I think Amazon.com application does that).
But I was reading stories how Apple usually rejects such applications if product if not going via in-App purchases. Or is it only for digital stuff?
Any thoughts on how likely such app will be rejected or approved?
Many apps have been approved and many apps have been rejected. I don't believe it is limited to just digital stuff.
I believe its just depends who reviews your application. It doesn't seem like there is an official rule about it. I think if there is a good reason for credit cards instead of an in-app purchase then your more likely to pass apple's approval process.
But your guaranteed way of getting it approved is to make everything an in-app purchase, so if you can use in-app purchase then do it.
"AT&T myWireless" app does exactly what you want.
Besides there are a lot of Credit Card Processing apps in the AppStore.
So in case your app is not approved you can always point out AT&T's app
and say "Hey, why can they do that and I don't??"
and they can always reply... or not actually
If the mobile solution is generic for so many mobile platforms like J2ME, Android, iPhone etc, then it does not make sense to change the payment mechanism for one platform alone. So InApp purchase may not be an option for most of the cases. I believe Apple understands it and approves the apps accordingly.

Purchase physical product from iPhone app without Apple in app purchase

Can an iPhone app allow a user to purchase a physical product (say a pen or a mouse) from inside an app, without using Apple in app purchase?
Is it allowed by Apple?
If yes, do you know any API that supports this?
Thanks
AJ
You are not permitted to sell physical goods or services using 'In-App Purchasing' since the goods purchased via this method must relate directly to the app using them.
You are free to implement your own payment handling system for selling physical goods though - for instace the PayPal API
If you already have a website for this purpose you could even forward them to that to take the payment - though this may reduce the quality of the user experience greatly.
Yes, but you can't use Apple payments to do it. All of the apps use their own payment processor to do it (Paypal, Google Checkout, Amazon Payments, etc).
They each have API's -- there is some code for PayPal in this question
Has anyone implemented the PayPal API through a native iPhone app?
You cannot use these mechanisms to deliver a digital good to the app (features or content), but you can use it for physical goods (as you wanted to).
Yes,
It is allowed to sell physical goods related to the app in-app on iOS and Android. Here is one interesting startup that handle logistics - http://www.sellinapp.com (for physical items). They use http://www.ZooZ.com as a payment gateway.
Hope this helps.
From Apple In App Purchase we can't able to purchase physical items or services, allowed only Digital Goods and services.
Ref:
https://developer.apple.com/in-app-purchase/In-App-Purchase-Guidelines.pdf
See 5th page.
Other than Apple , many third party gateway are there to do.
https://www.paypal.com/
http://www.sellinapp.com
http://www.zooz.com/
https://stripe.com/
http://www.ccavenue.com/
For PayPal SDK: https://github.com/paypal/PayPal-iOS-SDK/