Does anyone know if in-app purchase can be gifted?
A:
The iOS SDK has a framework called Store Kit for handling in app purchases. The framework is only for collecting payment. As stated in the iOS Reference Library In App Purchase Programming Guide:
You must provide any additional functionality, including unlocking built-in features or downloading content from your own servers.
You would have to create the gifting functionality.
"Now using the StoreKit is there a way to submit a purchase with someone else's email? and not the current user?" I do not see a way to do this in the SDK.
When user 1 goes to buy an in app product for user 2, you will have to provide a mechanism for user 1 to select user 2. Then process the payment normally with StoreKit for user 1. Save the transaction on your server (what user 1 bought user 2). In your app when you check to unlock or download your in app products you will have to check your server for that authorization.
Mark Robinson
2010-10-13 14:39:25
StoreKit is not *only* for collecting payment. It also keeps track of who's bought what. True, you have to implement unlocking or downloading, but that isn't so open-ended that you could implement "gifting" without some StoreKit support.
Jon-Eric
2010-10-13 14:45:00
You'll probably only run into problems when trying to gift non-consumable or subscription items. If the gifting is purely for consumable items, it would probably work. See here for what those terms mean: http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/NetworkingInternet/Conceptual/StoreKitGuide/APIOverview/OverviewoftheStoreKitAPI.html
Jon-Eric
2010-10-13 14:53:52
how do you "gift" an in-app purchase? like how you gift a normal app using the SDK?
Vilasack
2010-10-13 14:55:33
I didn't mean to imply that you wouldn't use Store Kit at all. Just that "gifting" is not currently part of the framework.
Mark Robinson
2010-10-13 14:55:37
if I "gift" an in-app item and my friend tries to download it with his account information.. will itunes automatically know that he has already purchased one? I assume so
Vilasack
2010-10-13 14:58:09
Thanks that is clearing things up. Now using the StoreKit is there a way to submit a purchase with someone else's email? and not the current user? this would solve my "gifting" functionality if I can make a purchase using the store kit and pass in the recipient's email. I unless it was documented in the SDK and I missed it
Vilasack
2010-10-13 15:19:22
A:
"Gifting" per say does not exist/work, but there is a way to provide your StoreKit functionality for free to select users.
In iTunes Connect, click on Manage Users, then In App Purchase Test User.
Here, you can add fake itunes accounts, which have the ability to download your StoreKit content for free. I don't believe you are allowed/able to add real email accounts. Don't think I have tried, but I always create bogus accounts and passwords. Literally anything works.
Logout of your account on your iPhone's App Store, go into your app, and purchase the StoreKit product with the fake account and password. This account provides free content on all of your apps. Not just a specific in-app purchase.
As you can see, this methodology is only good for people you REALLY trust. You need to tell people what the account username and password is, and if they tell other people about it, you lose revenue.
IN ESSENCE:
Gifting ?... No.
Free content for bloggers/beta/family ?... Yes.
Jus' Wondrin'
2010-10-13 19:09:52