Minimum Functionality Issue

We have built an app that fetches auto part catalog data from an API and displays it to the user in the app. Apple has rejected our app with the following response:


Guideline 4.2.2 - Design - Minimum Functionality


We noticed that your app only includes links, images, or content aggregated from the Internet with limited or no native iOS functionality. Although this content may be curated from the web specifically for your users, since it does not sufficiently differ from a mobile web browsing experience, it is not appropriate for the App Store.




It is true that our app doesn't have any native functionality, but it is critical for our users to be able to look up this data without having to browse to our website. We are wondering if we add a data caching function so that the app can function offline would meet the requirements and allow the app to be published. Could anyone give us advice in this area?


We have contacted Apple support numerious times to get clarification on this but never seem to get real answers from them. Any advice is much appreciated.


Our app can be previewed via Expo here: https://expo.io/@marcydesign/tpms

Replies

As long as your app lacks sufficient iOS native features and functionality to distinctly differentiate it from other/existing non-app store implementations, there seems little motivation for app review to allow it into the store. Basically, quoting 4.2.2 is a polite way of saying that you have no app.


Whether or not any changes you make to that app will guarantee approval is beyond anyone's opinions here.

> it is critical for our users to be able to look up this data ...... if we add a data caching function so that the app can function offline


I think you can make a compelling argument like "it is critical for our users to access this data even when they have no access to the internet for the following reasons _______. Therefore this app has been designed to cache data from our website. The same cannot be done without use of iOS native functionality."


Perhaps you could also add some location functions that show the closest location to a parts store.

My app was rejected quoting 4.2.2 as well. It's most useful feature is downloading data and making it available when the Internet is not available. Did you try to appeal based on this feature? I'm also curious if you decided to add another feature, such as using the location function.