iPhone app rejected upon section 3.3.3 (but what does it mean?)

Question

I made an iPhone application that displays a couple of pictures from the internet where you can comment on (iPhone sms bubble style )

My app was rejected because of:

1. We cannot post this version of your iPhone application to the App Store because it violates section 3.3.3 of the iPhone SDK Agreement;

"Without Apple's prior written approval, an Application may not provide, unlock or enable additional features or functionality through distribution mechanisms other than the iTunes Store."

If you would like to provide an invitation-only pre-release version of your application to a group of friends, then we encourage you to use the Ad Hoc application distribution method. Please go to the Distribution Tab in the iPhone Developer Portal for complete information on Ad Hoc distribution.

But what does it mean? I surfed a little on the internet and found out that this covers applications that have similarity to applications by Apple?

Does anyone have experience with that? And know how to solve this issue?

Answer 1

Section 3.3.3

Without Apple’s prior written approval, an Application may not provide, unlock or enable additional features or functionality through distribution mechanisms other than the App Store.

That means, for example, that you are not allowed to enable your application to download music or podcast files. Apple wants the owner of iPhones to use iTunes for that purpose.

You seem to violate that section since you're providing content from your site, even if you're downloading only pictures.

See this blog entry about the PodCaster app:

Podcaster quite obviously serves to unlock a feature using a distribution mechanism outside the iTunes Store. This limitation would also include apps that are designed to install other apps independent of iTunes (such as the Cydia jailbreak app - it’s not in the Apps Store either), or any other app that distributes song, TV, or movie downloads or podcasts.

See also this answer here on Stack Overflow: Reasons for rejecting iPhone application by Apple store

Answer 2

Or they believe you used the open SDK to reuse the bubble control from the SMS app.

Can you post a screenshot?

Answer 3

I got official response from apple

The website component of the application is currently not available to the general public. If you would like to provide an invitation-only pre-release version of your application to a group of friends, then we encourage you to use the Ad Hoc application distribution method.

Please go to the Distribution Tab in the iPhone Developer Portal for complete information on Ad Hoc distribution.