Staying one step ahead of legislators determined to curb Apple’s power over its own platform.
From Tim Higgins’ “Apple to Allow Media Apps to Link to Own Websites for Payment Options” in Thursday’s Wall Street Journal:
Apple Inc. said it would allow media apps to create in-app links to sign-up pages on those companies’ websites, allowing the likes of Spotify Technology and Netflix Inc. to bypass the iPhone maker’s cut of subscriptions.
Spotify and other technology companies for years have said Apple’s restrictions were unfair and anticompetitive. The Cupertino, Calif., company previously prohibited Spotify and others from directing their users to sign-up options outside the App Store.
Apple revealed the change Wednesday, saying it was among adjustments made to close an investigation by the Japan Fair Trade Commission and will apply globally to so-called reader apps available through Apple’s App Store…
Although the latest changes wouldn’t apply to Epic’s case, they represent the latest in a string of actions that have in recent days begun chipping away at rules long considered set in stone for the App Store. While critics have painted the rules as tactics Apple uses to wield power and control—accusations the company disputes—the changes don’t get at the heart of where Apple makes its money, such as games like Fortnite.
My take: There are doors to the walled garden that Apple can open without destroying it, and it seems to be opening them one door at a time.
See also: Apple lifts the gag order
And not until Apple has to.
How many (%) of App Store/gamers are going to change their purchasing habits (sense of security?) to buy direct from the developer? My guess is not many, most likely not a material amount.
You can bet money on the fact that developers will [contractually] not be allowed to make offers on their payment system that are lower than on Apple’s payment system. So where is the consumer benefit to buying direct from the developer? I don’t see any.
And wait til their is a data breach on one of those alternative payment systems.
Unlike Gaming Apps, most Media Apps don’t use the richness of iOS and its APIs so extensively.
Gaming Apps inherently need iOS. They cannot give the same experience as a Web App.
This moves also narrows the legal and regulator monopoly (should be duopoly) thesis.
As others, above, point out, this move has minor impact on one class of Apps. The net impact on services revenue, let alone Apple net revenue is trivial.
1. The nimbleness of Apple’s modifying these issues.
2. The immediate impact across all iDevices.
That’s because of the consistency across iOS devices. That isn’t close to the case with Android.
Why is that important? Because Apple isn’t sitting back waiting for the hammer to nail it. It’s moving the nail!
Where will the regulators monitor and ensure the user / consumer benefits somehow?
Because, as usual, it’s always about the money, and everything else is just lip service.