Stanza iPhone application can download books from a store:
Fictionwise will operate the “Stanza by Fictionwise” eBook store, which is accessible directly through the Stanza app, and gives Stanza users access to over 40,000 titles from all major trade publishers.
Surprised how this doesn’t break part 3.3.3 of the iPhone SDK license 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 App Store.
I guess, you need to be in a special “club” in order to get written approval from Apple.
(Link JkOnTheRun.)
That iPhone SDK restriction is regarding the application’s “features or functionality”, not content. I.e., you can’t distribute a game for free on the iPhone and then force someone to purchase and enter a registration code to unlock further levels. Stanza’s ability to download books isn’t doing anything that isn’t already done by many other applications like Safari Bookbag, eReader, or any of the many other applications that allow the downloading of additional content.
Comment by Joe — 12.03.08 @ 10:47 pm
Good to know. This opens the possibility for tons of iPhone apps. I just that that the whole purchasing content from a separate place was considered an “unlocking” mechanism for new features, since each book, or additional content can be considered a feature.
Comment by Jonathan Tarud — 12.04.08 @ 10:19 am