iOS IAP subscription Time Bomb [closed]

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Basically I want to create a paid application on the iTunes Store [for example $1.99]... Now I want that $1.99 to allow the user to use the app for 12 months. Then in order to continue to use the application the user will have to subscribe to an renewable IAP every year after that.

I was thinking of using a "time-bomb" that would track 365 days from when the user created their account.

Initially I didn't believe this model was possible but I read that WhatsApp have now adopted a similar strategy so I wanted to double check before I implemented it.

Can anyone confirm, deny or shred any light on this situation?

Answer 1

I am pretty sure there is no built-in way to make the user rebuy the app from iTunes. To achieve something like the WhatsApp yourself, I do not know how they specifically have it set up, you will need to make your app account based. Meaning anyone can download your app, but they will have to go through your service, to create an account that they paid for, that will let them use your app. Sort of like what the Apple Developer Center does, you buy a year to use the service, and at the end of the year, the service is still there, but you will have to repay to continue to use it.

There is many ways to do this, you can build and program your own server (Hard for beginners) or use a pre-made service, like Parse.com (Very easy for beginners). The reason I named Parse.com, because not only it allows you to make your app fully cloud based with or with out accounts or that it is cross-platformed through many of the popular OSs, but because it is easy to use and they have a pre-made customizable account class built in. You can then use Apple's In-app Purchases to renew the account from Parse.com. For example, have the account contain a variable that holds how many days are left on the account, and if you buy more days from In-app Purchases, it will add more days, and if it has no more days, that account will not be able to use the features of the app, except to buy more days through In-app Purchases.

I hoped I directed you in a better direction.