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I don't think the issue is the raw numbers, it's a question of market forces. Processing payments has costs and risks; if Apple solves that problem so well that

I don't think the issue is the raw numbers, it's a question of market forces. Processing payments has costs and risks; if Apple solves that problem so well that a developer thinks their fee is worthwhile, that's all well and good regardless of what the fee is. But by prohibiting apps from even telling the user about alternate payments, Apple is effectively trying to dictate how everyone on their platform can and can't do business. That seems problematic regardless of whether what numbers they dictate.

JumpCrisscross 6y ago
> by prohibiting apps from even telling the user about alternate payments, Apple is effectively trying to dictate how everyone on their platform can and can't do business Agreed. The problem of leveraging their App Store dominance for payments dominance is the issue. I don’t think there is an issue with the App Store being the only store on iOS devices.
Closi 6y ago
It’s also problematic when it means that Apple takes competitor revenues - for instance in the streaming audio market Apple is Spotify’s biggest competitor, while forcing Spotify to give them a bigger % of iOS revenues than their own margin. Apple ends up making more money out of Spotify on iOS than Spotify does, and then continues to spend money investing in a competing product.
- Hokusai 6y ago
  If you look at the numbers Apple has a higher profit from Spotify revenue than Spotify itself. That makes one think.
- skygazer 6y ago
  Would it be feasible for Apple to discount their 30% developer/iap fees in app categories in which they compete with developers commensurate with Apple’s dominance in that category? As though they themselves had to pay the same 30% fees, but to developers in the category, rather than to themselves. Would that level the playing field?
  - Closi 6y ago
    It would be more straightforward if they waived fees in those categories.

JumpCrisscross 6y ago

> by prohibiting apps from even telling the user about alternate payments, Apple is effectively trying to dictate how everyone on their platform can and can't do business Agreed. The problem of leveraging their App Store dominance for payments dominance is the issue. I don’t think there is an issue with the App Store being the only store on iOS devices.

Closi 6y ago

It’s also problematic when it means that Apple takes competitor revenues - for instance in the streaming audio market Apple is Spotify’s biggest competitor, while forcing Spotify to give them a bigger % of iOS revenues than their own margin. Apple ends up making more money out of Spotify on iOS than Spotify does, and then continues to spend money investing in a competing product.

Hokusai 6y ago
If you look at the numbers Apple has a higher profit from Spotify revenue than Spotify itself. That makes one think.
skygazer 6y ago
Would it be feasible for Apple to discount their 30% developer/iap fees in app categories in which they compete with developers commensurate with Apple’s dominance in that category? As though they themselves had to pay the same 30% fees, but to developers in the category, rather than to themselves. Would that level the playing field?
- Closi 6y ago
  It would be more straightforward if they waived fees in those categories.