4 ms·

Couldn't the behemoth apps, some of which get a pass from the subscription rules -- Netflix, Slack, Spotify, and others that are too big for Apple to not suppor

by jawns 6y ago

Couldn't the behemoth apps, some of which get a pass from the subscription rules -- Netflix, Slack, Spotify, and others that are too big for Apple to not support -- end this practice pretty easily by insisting they will leave the platform unless Apple agrees to a change in terms? Honestly, if it comes down to a game of chicken, who has more to lose? Netflix, Slack, Spotify, and other subscription apps who still get a ton of revenue from non-Apple sources? Or Apple, who now has to deal with a deluge of irate iPhone owners who want their popular apps? Almost seems like it would be appropriate to have a union of iPhone app developers and collectively bargain.

conanbatt 6y ago
It goes against their interest, why would they do something that helps competing apps?
- jawns 6y ago
  Does it assuredly go against their long-term interests? My assumption is that the longer this goes on, the more emboldened Apple will be to start extracting a cut from even the larger apps. That is already the case with Spotify. Maybe down the road, Apple demands that Netflix give it a cut. I guess it depends on where you assume Apple's market share will be in a few years. If we expect Apple to be even more powerful then, it would be better for these apps to have that face-off now.
  - conanbatt 6y ago
    I think that if there is only 1 music app in the app store, it has its place solidified in stone.
bagacrap 6y ago
who gets a pass from subscription rules? And no, Spotify (market cap $36B) is not going to win a game of chicken against Apple (market cap $1533B). Apple users aren't going to switch to Samsung, they'll switch to apple music or w/e.
- kall 6y ago
  Some video streaming apps do [1], and countless SaaS companies like slack get a pass for the issue hey.com faced. You cannot subscribe through the app but access your premium service through it. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/21203630/apple-amazon-prime-video-ios-app-store-cut-exempt-program-deal https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/21203630/apple-amazon-prim...
- arvinsim 6y ago
  I think the PR nightmare will definitely leave an impact on Apple and iPhone users.

by jawns 6y ago

conanbatt 6y ago

It goes against their interest, why would they do something that helps competing apps?

jawns 6y ago
Does it assuredly go against their long-term interests? My assumption is that the longer this goes on, the more emboldened Apple will be to start extracting a cut from even the larger apps. That is already the case with Spotify. Maybe down the road, Apple demands that Netflix give it a cut. I guess it depends on where you assume Apple's market share will be in a few years. If we expect Apple to be even more powerful then, it would be better for these apps to have that face-off now.
- conanbatt 6y ago
  I think that if there is only 1 music app in the app store, it has its place solidified in stone.

bagacrap 6y ago

who gets a pass from subscription rules? And no, Spotify (market cap $36B) is not going to win a game of chicken against Apple (market cap $1533B). Apple users aren't going to switch to Samsung, they'll switch to apple music or w/e.

kall 6y ago
Some video streaming apps do [1], and countless SaaS companies like slack get a pass for the issue hey.com faced. You cannot subscribe through the app but access your premium service through it. [1] https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/21203630/apple-amazon-prime-video-ios-app-store-cut-exempt-program-deal https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/1/21203630/apple-amazon-prim...
arvinsim 6y ago
I think the PR nightmare will definitely leave an impact on Apple and iPhone users.