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This looks like the free market at work to me. Google policy explicitly permits apps like Apple Music to charge for subscriptions outside the App Store and for

by zaroth 6y ago

This looks like the free market at work to me. Google policy explicitly permits apps like Apple Music to charge for subscriptions outside the App Store and for them to not allow taking subscription payment through the App Store. Apple has a similar policy for “Reader” apps on their own App Store for apps which are used to access content that you subscribe to, which Apple reasons that “Hey” does not qualify for. That’s why Spotify and Netflix don’t pay 30% to Apple for their subscribers. So I find this “gotcha” wrong on two levels. First, it isn’t inconsistent because Apple and Google are perfectly free to set policies on their own stores, and secondly, in fact they have similar policies for music subscription apps on both stores. If app makers find the Android policy preferable, more app makers will choose to develop for Android and their ecosystem could be better of for it. In fact it doesn’t work that way because due to a combination of demographics and possibly software usability factors, users spend about 50% more money on the Apple’s store than on Google’s.

fastest963 6y ago
Spotify definitely pays 30%. See https://timetoplayfair.com/timeline/ https://timetoplayfair.com/timeline/ I assume that Hulu also pays the same 30%.
- zaroth 6y ago
  Thanks for the correction. It looks like Netflix also had at one time been paying substantial fees to Apple, and then I see articles from 2019 saying they turned off IAP, but if I look on the App Store right now I can see IAP for Netflix is listed... so I'm definitely confused about the policy. > Spotify pays Apple a 15% fee for only about 0.5% of its paid members, according to Apple's response to Spotify's complaint about App Store fees. So Apple gets approximately 0.075% of Spotify revenue through App Store fees. Here's what Apple's site actually says about their Reader policy; > 3.1.3(a) “Reader” Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video, access to professional databases, VoIP, cloud storage, and approved services such as classroom management apps), provided that you agree not to directly or indirectly target iOS users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, and your general communications about other purchasing methods are not designed to discourage use of in-app purchase. So Reader apps don't get free IAP. It's not clear if they must offer IAP, but certainly it seems at some point both Spotify and Netflix tried to get away from it, but it seems to be back just looking live now at the App Store. There's also some recent developments where Apple is letting Amazon / Prime Video sell/rent movies and shows by billing your Amazon account in the app now, where-as earlier this year you would have to go through the browser to make the purchase. [2] I know that I personally only subscribe to Spotify because I listen to it on my iPhone. I've never even tried to use it on a desktop. I also subscribed to Spotify through their website, not through the App Store. I securely downloaded the Spotify app for free, from Apple servers, using an Apple SDK, and get regular automatic updates to the app using Apple's platform. [1] - https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-fires-back-spotify-pays-fees-on-less-than-1-percent-of-members/ https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-fires-back-spotify-pays-fees... [2] - 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...
- screwycaboose 6y ago
  it's only 30% of the first year if you allow subscriptions in app, then 15% the following years
chj 6y ago
Are people starting to buy in the "Reader" concept now? It's laughable. Next, you will need to define what kinds of "Write" are acceptable in "Reader" apps. Is payment a certain form of "Write" or not?

by zaroth 6y ago

fastest963 6y ago

Spotify definitely pays 30%. See https://timetoplayfair.com/timeline/ https://timetoplayfair.com/timeline/ I assume that Hulu also pays the same 30%.

zaroth 6y ago
Thanks for the correction. It looks like Netflix also had at one time been paying substantial fees to Apple, and then I see articles from 2019 saying they turned off IAP, but if I look on the App Store right now I can see IAP for Netflix is listed... so I'm definitely confused about the policy. > Spotify pays Apple a 15% fee for only about 0.5% of its paid members, according to Apple's response to Spotify's complaint about App Store fees. So Apple gets approximately 0.075% of Spotify revenue through App Store fees. Here's what Apple's site actually says about their Reader policy; > 3.1.3(a) “Reader” Apps: Apps may allow a user to access previously purchased content or content subscriptions (specifically: magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, video, access to professional databases, VoIP, cloud storage, and approved services such as classroom management apps), provided that you agree not to directly or indirectly target iOS users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase, and your general communications about other purchasing methods are not designed to discourage use of in-app purchase. So Reader apps don't get free IAP. It's not clear if they must offer IAP, but certainly it seems at some point both Spotify and Netflix tried to get away from it, but it seems to be back just looking live now at the App Store. There's also some recent developments where Apple is letting Amazon / Prime Video sell/rent movies and shows by billing your Amazon account in the app now, where-as earlier this year you would have to go through the browser to make the purchase. [2] I know that I personally only subscribe to Spotify because I listen to it on my iPhone. I've never even tried to use it on a desktop. I also subscribed to Spotify through their website, not through the App Store. I securely downloaded the Spotify app for free, from Apple servers, using an Apple SDK, and get regular automatic updates to the app using Apple's platform. [1] - https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-fires-back-spotify-pays-fees-on-less-than-1-percent-of-members/ https://www.cnet.com/news/apple-fires-back-spotify-pays-fees... [2] - 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...
screwycaboose 6y ago
it's only 30% of the first year if you allow subscriptions in app, then 15% the following years

chj 6y ago

Are people starting to buy in the "Reader" concept now? It's laughable. Next, you will need to define what kinds of "Write" are acceptable in "Reader" apps. Is payment a certain form of "Write" or not?