Distributing iOS 7 app with in-app purchase

[ItsMe_Sean]

Hey guys

Wondering if anyone has come across the same issue that has been brought up with me with our deployment of iOS apps.

We have an app, K9 Web browser, that is to be put on our iOS fleet as requested by out Junior School IT Coach, being a free app with a $2.99 in-app purchase to remove advertisements in the app, as it is going to kids. Does anyone know how one would go about distributing the app with that purchase made to remove the adverts already without having to go to each iOS device and signing in with our AppStore account?

Cheers!

[cdenesha]

I don't believe this is possible. Email the developer and let them know you can't use it in an Educational setting with this kind of pay model, and see if they can repackage it (perhaps as a new app) for VPP.

[nsdjoe]

Yes, contact the developer. I've contacted about a dozen developers that all had free versions of their apps, but required in-app purchases to use all of the features. I simply emailed the developer and asked if they would come out with a "pro" or "full" version so that we could use VPP. 90% of them came out with a "full" version in a week or two.

I'll look for the text that I use when I send messages to developers and if I find it I'll post.
~Joe

[ItsMe_Sean]

That would be awesome if I could grab a copy of that.

So far I have received a total of 3 apps that have adverts in them and need to be removed before deployment, with more most likely coming in the future as we get further into our new iPad program.

Cheers Joe

-Sean

[nsdjoe]

Sean,

Here's the email I've been sending developers. Basically I let them know that we need the app to not have "in app" content and the paid version needs to be in the VPP program for us to purchase it. Here you go...

Hi, My name is <NAME> and I am a mobile device support specialist with the <SCHOOL_DISTRICT> in <CITY, ST>. We have a growing iPad deployment in our school district where both students and staff are using these devices. We use Apple's Volume Purchase Plan to purchase apps and we use our MDM to distribute apps to our end user devices. We have a group of users that are interested in purchasing your app: <name-of-app-here> However, we see that purchases are currently only available as "in-app" purchases. We aren't able to purchase and distribute this app because unfortunately Apple doesn't have a method to purchase VPP codes for "in-app" upgrades. My request/suggestion for you is... rather than having the upgrade available as an "in-app" purchase, make the current free version a "Lite" version and the paid/upgraded version a "Pro" version and have the paid app available in Apple's VPP program so that organizations and enterprises such as ourselves can purchase licenses in bulk and distribute the app to their fleet of iPads. This could help you guys boost sales because you will be selling them in bulk and many school districts (like ours) only purchase apps that are available in the VPP program. Let me know if this is possible or if its something you can implement in the near future. We currently have several users who want your app. If VPP for your app is not possible in the near future we'll have to find another app that has similar features to yours that is available in the VPP program. Thanks for considering and hope to hear back from you soon.

Hope this helps!!
~Joe