Apple positioning anti-trust over subscriptions in their App Store?

[whs37]

Just as all of the big content providers were starting to get chummy with Apple and its media savior - the mighty iPad - ol

 

[Stuntman]

The part that really troubles me is

Apple does require that if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app.

Apple is basically telling publishers that all other ways of paying for the digital subscription must not be cheaper than paying through Apple. Apple takes a 30% cut. If some other system or company provides a channel for users to subscribe and only takes a 20% cut, publishers cannot make that method 10% cheaper for the customers. Isn't that anti-competitive?

 

[IOWA]

The part that really troubles me is



Apple is basically telling publishers that all other ways of paying for the digital subscription must not be cheaper than paying through Apple. Apple takes a 30% cut. If some other system or company provides a channel for users to subscribe and only takes a 20% cut, publishers cannot make that method 10% cheaper for the customers. Isn't that anti-competitive?

Yeah there are rumors of anti-trust suits because of these new 'policies'.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Apple wants their cut. I can't blame them for trying to get their cut. Whether people stand for it or not is another thing. How much business does Amazon lose if they pull their app from the app store vs how much business do they lose if they start selling in app?

 

[byteware]

What would REALLY be interesting, is if there was a backlash and everybody took their business to Android... I don't see it happening, but it would be VERY interesting.

 

[EarlyMon]

Rhapsody won't bow to Apple's subscription policy, issues statement -- Engadget

Yeah there are rumors of anti-trust suits because of these new 'policies'.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704409004576146613997208194.html

 

[A.Nonymous]

The Kindle store in the Android app is in-app because users requested it. I would imagine the only reason Amazon hasn't made their iOS app support in store purchases is because they don't want to pay the 30% to Apple and I can't blame them. Apple is their competitor in the e-book business.

 

[PerfectHorizon]

Apple sucks, almost as bad as Microsoft. Open-source is truly the way of the future...Apple will eventually feel the impact of their decisions. The reason they do this is because they have such a small market of brainwashed zombies that pay for Apple's outrageous pricing that they have to wreck anyone that wants to use their technology to pay the bills (their computers are crap...for the kind of money that a macbook costs I could build a linux machine that is 8 to 10 times more powerful).

 

[EarlyMon]

^I'm leaving that post up as an example of what not to do in this thread.

If this thread turns into another set of posts from Linux users using any excuse whatsoever to hijack yet another thread because the word Apple is mentioned, then I'll take action.

It's especially frustrating as comparing Linux (an operating system) to Apple (a hardware company) is somehow fine around here - but let anyone compare the iPhone (a piece of hardware) to Android (an operating system) and everyone screams murder.

This thread is about actions taken at the Apple App Store concerning subscriptions.

That's important - it could lead to anti-trust issues - it could impact moves Google will take with their upcoming offerings.

This is a not a thread where you read the title, pay zero attention and post how great Linux is.



And while the Linux fans are stewing - try reading up on Darwin, WebKit and a few other things.

Edit - and to remove further temptation, I'm changing the thread title.

 

[Crude]

I think this makes it clear that android and iphone aren't really the same at all. While they are both capable devices they don't both target the same customers and in fact we are comparing apples to ...well, robots.
Apple has already demonstrated they have a very competent legal team. I think this will stick. One the flip side, if apple upsets enough of their developers....well the outcome will be predictable.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I think this makes it clear that android and iphone aren't really the same at all. While they are both capable devices they don't both target the same customers and in fact we are comparing apples to ...well, robots.
Apple has already demonstrated they have a very competent legal team. I think this will stick. One the flip side, if apple upsets enough of their developers....well the outcome will be predictable.

It will be interesting to see Apple downplay it's roll in the market as that's it's main defense against anti-trust suits. Even if said suits don't go through it will be very interesting to see if services like Pandora, Rhapsody, Amazon, BN, etc.... cave to Apple or just pull their apps. That would be a blow to Apple I would think. The article about Rhapsody is linked above. Pandora is in the same type of boat Rhapsody is in. 45-50% of their revenue is gone in licensing. I don't see how they can afford to potentially give away another 30% to Apple.

 

[whs37]

It will also be interesting how the EU anti-trust authorities are going to react to that. They usually act against preditory practices.

 

[Bnice]

Come on, how greedy can one be? 30 % and then they want more if purchase is made else where. What I don't understand is why companies do business with then. Hopefully they will migrate to Android.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I think we can all agree that it is definitely up there on the evil-ometer regardless of your opinion on Apple.

 

[Crude]

The right thing would be for all the developers to pull their apps from apples market. What will likely happen is the service will cost more on all platforms to make up the revenue that is going to apple.

 

[A.Nonymous]

I don't think that can happen realistically. If a service like Rhapsody, Pandora or Amazon raises their prices 30% across the board it really cuts into their profit margins pretty severely.

 

[IOWA]

The right thing would be for all the developers to pull their apps from apples market. What will likely happen is the service will cost more on all platforms to make up the revenue that is going to apple.

Maybe not. With Android's rise, and now market share leader, iOS doesn't have control over the market like they used to. Furthermore, with the rush of Android tablets, iOS is going to get beaten down even further more into the shadows.

IMO Apple is digging themselves a grave with this and other policies.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Maybe not. With Android's rise, and now market share leader, iOS doesn't have control over the market like they used to. Furthermore, with the rush of Android tablets, iOS is going to get beaten down even further more into the shadows.

IMO Apple is digging themselves a grave with this and other policies.

I don't necessarily agree. While Android may be the leader in market share for devices, they're certainly not close to being the leader in distributing mobile content. If someone like Amazon did pull out of the App Store, they would definitely lose a significant portion of their business. I'm too lazy to look up what portion it would be.

I need to browse some mac forums to see how the fanboys are defending this.

 

[IOWA]

I don't necessarily agree. While Android may be the leader in market share for devices, they're certainly not close to being the leader in distributing mobile content. If someone like Amazon did pull out of the App Store, they would definitely lose a significant portion of their business. I'm too lazy to look up what portion it would be.

I need to browse some mac forums to see how the fanboys are defending this.

Ah but here's the catch 22. Would amazon lose more money with Apple's 30% share getting take out, or just by withdrawing to other, more popular platforms.

 

[A.Nonymous]

Apple fanboy take on this - the 30% is worth it because you are paying for the "privilege" of being on iOS.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[whs37]

Apple fanboy take on this - the 30% is worth it because you are paying for the "privilege" of being on iOS.

Wow. Just wow.

Yeah, this amazing indeed. Just like people pay double price for a Mac laptop. I never understood that. I think a lot has to do with hype.

 

[EarlyMon]

Yeah, all those fanboys paying that 30% increase that hasn't happened yet is amazing.

 

[A.Nonymous]

It's very interesting as some people are suggesting people like Amazon simply turn their apps into just readers and not sell any content or link to any content in them. I don't know if that violates the TOS or not. The other thing is that Apple gets the customer info on all in app purchases. Does a company like Amazon want to give Apple it's customer information? Somehow I think not.

 

[Crude]

Apple fanboy take on this - the 30% is worth it because you are paying for the "privilege" of being on iOS.

Wow. Just wow.

This is why I don't like apple...not because they don't have a capable device.
But your right....WOW.

 

[A.Nonymous]

This is why I don't like apple...not because they don't have a capable device.
But your right....WOW.

I'm in the same boat. They make quality devices, but the fanboys are just rabid and insane. Granted you have Android fanboys who are the same, but there don't seem to be as many of them.