I'd like to create an iPhone App linking via a webview to a third party ticket selling site. This should be OK to do via BuzzTouch and the app would be for the ticket selling company, so no problems there. The app would also include interesting and relevant event content. I was wondering however if there might be a problem with Apple approval though - don't they like their 30% of all sales out of an app? I'd welcome your views... Thank you.

Well… If you want to 'sell' something from within the app, it's an 'in app purchase' and Apple wants a 30% cut. If you take them 'physically' out of your app via safari, and direct them to a web page that they can purchase the items, no foul. But you can't sell 'within' the app, other than 'in app purchase'. And any money that flows 'through' the app is subject to Apple royalty payments... Cheers! -- Smug

Hhmm... It seems like a slightly grey area. I would be using the Custom URL or more likely Kittsy's Pop up WebView. I would like the experience to feel as if you were staying in the app, but of course it would be taking you out to a webpage. I have seen a few other apps that must do a similar sort of thing. Lets hope Apple's app reviewer is in a good mood when it passes through...

have you looked into the ticketmaster app for ipad i just dwonloaded it their server is under maintenace i think you make your purchases within the app, not sure if apple takes 30% unless its marked up to cover that cost, i have a client that produces their own casino type show, i incorporate the ticketmaster code into a landing page within the site, id be interested to see if the apple reviewer will reject it using the custom url plugin. keep us posted

Thanks Ed, I had a look at ticketmaster and ticketline. It seems you also have to be logged into/registered on their websites to make purchases. 30% would seem a huge markup to cover though...

When I was in school oh so many years ago, 30% was the typical 'markup' for most items. But we're also talking brick and mortar. There was rent, payroll, and a slew of other costs. They didn't get to keep 'all' of the difference. 30% for a 'cyber' storefront is a pretty hefty tag, I think. Thinking that the app store brought in several billions last year, and Apple got 30% of those billions, they've recouped their investment on just about everything. But it's either that, or… Cydia, I guess. I have no clue about that market. I would *love* to have some kind of ticketmaster code to run on my own site; none of the 'pros' cover Guam for most anything, and I love getting the niche market, especially if it helps the community too. Cheers! -- Smug

You can sell physical goods and services in your application. It does not have to leave your app to make the purchase. Apple would never authorise this use. Even if it created a digital pass book ticket the actual event is physical. A webview is deemed less secure than safari it is not advised to sell through a webview. If the person already sells tickets online then there will be an API already it will need to be coded into its own classes and view controllers. There are some services that have ios and android code and APIs available. PayPal also has ios code and selling services that could be used. Chris I have seen your email will reply shortly

Nice Pic, Kittsy! :) Cheers! -- Smug

As far as my knowledge goes, if you're trying to sell a feature of an app, then an In-App Purchase is required. In this case, Apple would take 30%. However, if you're selling a product, then Apple are not allowed to take 30%. They would reject the app if you we're trying to sell something with an In-App Purchase. Think about the Amazon app or eBay app. They have their own payment schemes. In your case, you would be trying to sell a product, not an app extension. Therefore Apple, by law, aren't allowed to take 30%. They take 0%. But you cannot use their method of payment through iTunes. You must use other forms of payment. As far as I can see, unless you get an app API from Paypal or others, using Custom URL or WebView will do the trick. Susan's Film Fest app does this. But remember that Apple will reject an app that is only Custom URLs. If it is an extension to your existing app, you'll be fine, but if it is essentially only a website in an app, Apple will reject the app.

@LevensGardener, do not take this as discouragement (try yourself, you might get lucky) but I tried something very similar to what you have in mind, using all the workarounds others mentioned here, followed all the Apple guidelines and the app still got rejected. My experience is that the Apple guidelines are for us to follow but not for Apple to follow (trust me they do not always follow their own guidelines)

After my post I started snooping around on the net, and found a couple of interesting packages, for those who may want to 'self host' their own ticketing site… http://www.fusionticket.org http://sourceforge.net/projects/freeseat/ They look like the best of what is available with no strings attached. Cheers! -- Smug

Thanks for all the comments. So it seems selling tickets through the app should be OK by Apple (if they follow their own guidelines!). As a variation on this theme, do we know of anyone who has tried stitching PassBook into a BuzzTouch app?