Airbnb and ClassPass Claim Apple Wrongly Demanded Commission on Sales of Virtual Classes

[edgonzalez32]

SO again, people are upset that Apple wants a cut for providing a "store" and all the security and features that allow a wonderful presentation to the end user (customer) to "work" as advertised?
Enough of this crap already. This is incredibly easy to understand. If you want to charge for your application/subscription. Apple gets a cut for hosting this and securing that, and making the payment process work, etc. Why is that so hard? If you sell a physical product in a physical store. You don't get the full retail price paid back to you, you get a cut taken out from the store for SELLING IT!!! FFS is this really that hard?

And AGAIN, it’s not the cut itself. It’s how Apple constantly keeps imposing themselves to get that cut.

I can buy a game on steam and then choose to buy the dlc elsewhere. I don’t HAVE to get it on steam.
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Best Buy also sells PS+ and they get a cut of it if people buy it there. Best Buy does not allow Sony to put up a sign in their store to say "Don't buy your PS+ here buy it on our web store so that we don't have to pay Best Buy". Just like Sony would make more money if they sold the PS4 themselves and not have to pay best buy. So to you, Best Buy should allow Sony to put up a sign in their store telling people to buy direct? All stores have rules and the point of owning any store is to make money. Allowing people to circumvent paying you just because they think its not fair because all you are doing is providing a space for them to sell means the doom of retail as we know it. If Sony wants to sell direct they have every opportunity to spend massive amounts on advertising to direct people to buy direct. All these app companies have the same option but feel entitled to make sure Apple makes nothing. How is this fair.

Isn’t ps+ right on the box of the ps4? Plus you can buy a ps4, get home and still get ps+ without buying it in Best Buy.

 

[Altivec88]

And AGAIN, it’s not the cut itself. It’s how Apple constantly keeps imposing themselves to get that cut.

I can buy a game on steam and then choose to buy the dlc elsewhere. I don’t HAVE to get it on steam.
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Isn’t ps+ right on the box of the ps4? Plus you can buy a ps4, get home and still get ps+ without buying it in Best Buy.

Sure PS+ is on the box but it does not say, "please buy direct from us". while Best Buy as the PS+ cards hanging right next to it.

You can do the same thing on the Apple store. You can also sell your product (subscriptions, online classes,what ever) on your website or in person as well as the apple store and not pay Apple a cent. Apple only collects if the transaction is done from their platform (ie, their store or the app you created using their tools and distributed from their store). Apple does not want you to put a sign in their store telling people not to buy from their store which is only fair but you are free to sell your product by other means that do not include Apple.

 

[herp]

If stores does not making any money selling iPhones, why do the sell them?

Foot traffic and accessory sales. Some kickback dollars from carriers on upgrades and new lines.

 

[MacBH928]

No, you can't. That's the problem. There is literally no alternative to Apple/Google in distributing mobile software. If your business is built on mobile software, then there is nowhere else to leave to.

Actually you can, they just don't want to put the effort in. All of the Netflix, Steam, Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, and everyone who does not like the Apple rules can pitch in for a consortium to create an Android and iOS alternative then can punish Apple by not providing their services on the iOS platform or asking for absurd prices making people never signup from App Store again.

When Apple wanted to compete against Nokia and Blackberry they created iOS and Google created Android, Google created Chrome to take down Internet Explorer, Microsoft created Xbox to take on Sega-Nintendo-Sony, Disney created Disney+ to compete against Netflix...

If you don't want to put the effort in, then follow the rules of those who did and took a risk.
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Sure PS+ is on the box but it does not say, "please buy direct from us". while Best Buy as the PS+ cards hanging right next to it.

You can do the same thing on the Apple store. You can also sell your product (subscriptions, online classes,what ever) on your website or in person as well as the apple store and not pay Apple a cent. Apple only collects if the transaction is done from their platform (ie, their store or the app you created using their tools and distributed from their store). Apple does not want you to put a sign in their store telling people not to buy from their store which is only fair but you are free to sell your product by other means that do not include Apple.

can you actually buy an app from the web developer site then download it on App Store and enter the serial-code and it will work?

 

[urnotl33t]

No, you can't. That's the problem. There is literally no alternative to Apple/Google in distributing mobile software. If your business is built on mobile software, then there is nowhere else to leave to.

Web apps. Just like iPhone OS 2.0 days. I never said that was THE BEST way, but it is *a* way. Now with Apple Pay on the web... and even Sign In With Apple... it’s doable.

 

[Altivec88]

Actually you can, they just don't want to put the effort in. All of the Netflix, Steam, Airbnb, Lyft, Uber, and everyone who does not like the Apple rules can pitch in for a consortium to create an Android and iOS alternative then can punish Apple by not providing their services on the iOS platform or asking for absurd prices making people never signup from App Store again.

When Apple wanted to compete against Nokia and Blackberry they created iOS and Google created Android, Google created Chrome to take down Internet Explorer, Microsoft created Xbox to take on Sega-Nintendo-Sony, Disney created Disney+ to compete against Netflix...

If you don't want to put the effort in, then follow the rules of those who did and took a risk.
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can you actually buy an app from the web developer site then download it on App Store and enter the serial-code and it will work?

No... But you can make your app free so you don't even need a code. If the initial purchase is done through the vendors website, so they process the payment, they create the account on their servers, they handle all problems associated with the purchase. Once that is done, they can tell them to go to the App Store and download the free app, enter your credentials, and no money goes to Apple. Does that not sound fair enough? Apple gets nothing even though they provided all the tools for them to develop the App. Their are millions of Apps that already do this.

This dispute is about some developers wanting their cake and eat it too. They feel its inconvenient for them to spend advertising dollars to steer people to their website and then handle everything. Its much easier if Apple does everything for them and complain about how they don't want to pay.

 

[P-DogNC]

AirB&B charges less, provides more service, and makes its charges more transparent to the end-customer. AirB&B also provides a number of booking fee options, including the baseline one in which the hotel only pays 2% (in which case a booking fee is also charged the guest).

Untrue. What about Airbnb double dipping with commissions and extraneous fees charged to both hosts and renters? Few companies are anywhere near as anti-competitive and in need of an antitrust investigation than Airbnb!

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airbnb-antitrust-japan-idUSKCN1MK121

"Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) opened the probe because Airbnb had prohibited certain clients from listing properties on a rival website, a move that would undermine competition."

Once again, opportunistic, cowardly, hypocritical predators “jumping into the fray” once they sense an advantage - roughly the same morals as a patent troll.

 

[urnotl33t]

I cannot walk into a mall and teach classes for profit and expect to NOT pay some kind of rent. Apple fronts the significant cost to develop and maintain the app store, issue automatic updates, maintain security, litigate complaints and deliver consistent service. On top of that Apple is bringing a world of customers to these struggling businesses. So I think Apple is very much in the right to expect compensation from businesses profiting off of their infrastructure. The terms of conditions were agreed to by the businesses. And as another user put it, there's a Google alternative if they do not wish to pay to use the Apple Store. Or they can write their own web app and go it alone. Business is business-- not charity. Apple has to make money on this thing.

For the last line, ISTR that Apple runs the App Store at either break-even or a slight loss. The store itself isn’t a profit center for them. Maybe that’s changed and I don’t know it.

 

[I7guy]

What DON'T you agree with Apple on in all of this? Or do you just blindly defend them?

Why? In general should businesses be allowed to make money off of Apples' back? Or should Apple always be criticised? Maybe airbnb and classpass should pull their ios apps and move over to android. Wonder how that would work for them?

 

[edgonzalez32]

Why? In general should businesses be allowed to make money off of Apples' back? Or should Apple always be criticised? Maybe airbnb and classpass should pull their ios apps and move over to android. Wonder how that would work for them?

I didn’t realize being on iOS bars them from being in the Google play store. /s

and what are you asking why about? Are the only 2 options that people choose as a response to this are “go to the Google play store” and “then take your app off the App Store”? Is that the only piece of information you’re able to provide to this discussion?

ok, take it off the App Store and put it where? Where else can devs host apps to be installed on iOS? NOWHERE. Don’t you get the ****ing point here?

 

[I7guy]

I didn’t realize being on iOS bars them from being in the Google play store. /s

and what are you asking why about? Are the only 2 options that people choose as a response to this are “go to the Google play store” and “then take your app off the App Store”? Is that the only piece of information you’re able to provide to this discussion?

ok, take it off the App Store and put it where? Where else can devs host apps to be installed on iOS? NOWHERE. Don’t you get the ****ing point here?

I get the point. I wonder how many others do? But it does seem like there are two types of responses. Agree with apple or disagree with Apple. And if my post only provides some unidimensional piece of information, than what substance does the quoted add to the discussion?

It's a tough situation but airbnb and classpass are booking classes. Who should pay for that on Apples distribution channel and why should they be exempt?

 

[Altivec88]

I didn’t realize being on iOS bars them from being in the Google play store. /s

and what are you asking why about? Are the only 2 options that people choose as a response to this are “go to the Google play store” and “then take your app off the App Store”? Is that the only piece of information you’re able to provide to this discussion?

ok, take it off the App Store and put it where? Where else can devs host apps to be installed on iOS? NOWHERE. Don’t you get the ****ing point here?

Actually I gave you a 3rd option, which many companies have been happily doing over a decade. Sell your Apps and products on your own. (ie. Market, compete the transaction, create an account on your own servers, assume the liability of handling security and dealing with returns and problems). Then provide your app for free on the App store where Apple gets nothing, That relieves Apples liability other than to refund $0 in the event of a dispute and it gives the developer what they want... more money. oh wait... that stuff actually does cost money.

I am not sure what outcome you are expecting or wanting from the government. You really want them dictating how much companies are supposed to make or forcing a company that models their product around security to be opened up. The biggest reason I choose iPhones is because it is a walled garden. If iOS gets forced open to be the same as Android, there is a good chance I buy an Android next time. That signifies the government meddled in destroying a companies (which does not even have majority market share) advantage. Also, if the government wants to dictate profit margins, it's opening up a can of worms. The only fair thing in that instance is to say no company can make over X% profit. You can't just control one industry and/or one company. I am surprised how many of you want governments to meddle in this kind of stuff.

From a user stand point, the only thing I can think that people are expecting is lower prices. Do you honestly believe that a developer that was able to sell an app for $100 will sell it for $70 if they didn't have to pay Apple anything. You would be wrong. Great effort goes into pricing anything. Developers aren't saints, they are no different than Apple. Every company wants to make the most they can and If the market is willing to pay $100, then the app will be $100. Most things have retail mark ups, Do you go around basing your purchases based on who gets what share of your money or complaining that Best Buy made 24.2% off your playstation and deserves only 17.9%. So again, I'm not sure what some of you are expecting to gain out of this.

 

[edgonzalez32]

Do you honestly believe that a developer that was able to sell an app for $100 will sell it for $70 if they didn't have to pay Apple anything.

You don’t see the problem there?

If iOS gets forced open to be the same as Android, there is a good chance I buy an Android next time. That signifies the government meddled in destroying a companies (which does not even have majority market share) advantage.

this logic makes zero sense.

listen. You ****ing people on this website make zero sense. With the way you guys defend this company, you’d think it was a goddamn religion. It’s a phone bro. You can happily use your device while being able to still criticize choices and practices.

But no, nobody here can do that.

 

[Tovenaar]

I don't understand all the vitriol that's being directed towards Apple on their 30% cut. I would understand if people would try to negotiate a lower revenue share, but the current narrative about Apple being a monopoly and that a revenue share is unfair and abusive doesn't make sense. Retailers have been charging a cut since forever to sell other people's goods, that's what retail is all about. The revenue share ensures that Apple works tirelessly to give you a great platform to sell your apps and services. If there's nothing in it for them the app store would become an afterthought, like what happens from time to time to Apple's other free software, like iWork.

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If you are a restaurant, and then you create an app to order online, then you need to pay Apple 30% of every order?
That is worse than any Mafia I have ever seen.

They don't charge anything for physical goods, only digital goods/services.

 

[Altivec88]

First off. Are you old enough to know what a forum is? It's a place where people get to discuss and debate things. Not only is this a forum, its on a site that attracts people that predominantly like Apple. Being all shocked that you are getting Pro Apple replies here says a lot about you.

If you look at my past posts, you would see that I let Apple have it more times then I praise them. In this case, I agree with their position. When I do criticize apple here, I don't get all mad when the Apple sheep come out because it is common sense that they will be here.

I have clearly stated valid points in all my replies and your rebuttal is, "you don't see a problem? this logic makes zero sense" without explaining anything of why you feel that way. There is no point discussing anything with you because you have a lot of growing up to do.

You say its only a phone, yet here you are on a tech forum being a big man behind your tiny keyboard swearing at people. I think you need to take some of your own advice and chill bro. It's only a phone.

I will end by saying, Crying like a baby and resorting to personal attacks when someone doesn't agree with you shows your maturity level and stops anyone from taking you seriously. I am not going to report you but I hope someone does because if I was an administrator on this forum, I would ban you in heart beat.
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You don’t see the problem there?



this logic makes zero sense.

listen. You ****ing people on this website make zero sense. With the way you guys defend this company, you’d think it was a goddamn religion. It’s a phone bro. You can happily use your device while being able to still criticize choices and practices.

But no, nobody here can do that.

First off. Are you old enough to know what a forum is? It's a place where people get to discuss and debate things. Not only is this a forum, its on a site that attracts people that predominantly like Apple. Being all shocked that you are getting Pro Apple replies here says a lot about you.

If you look at my past posts, you would see that I let Apple have it more times then I praise them. In this case, I agree with their position. When I do criticize apple here, I don't get all mad when the Apple sheep come out because it is common sense that they will be here.

I have clearly stated valid points in all my replies and your rebuttal is, "you don't see a problem? this logic makes zero sense" without explaining anything of why you feel that way. There is no point discussing anything with you because you have a lot of growing up to do.

You say its only a phone, yet here you are on a tech forum being a big man behind your tiny keyboard swearing at people. I think you need to take some of your own advice and chill bro. It's only a phone.

I will end by saying, Crying like a baby and resorting to personal attacks when someone doesn't agree with you shows your maturity level and stops anyone from taking you seriously. I am not going to report you but I hope someone does because if I was an administrator on this forum, I would ban you in heart beat.
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You don’t see the problem there?



this logic makes zero sense.

listen. You ****ing people on this website make zero sense. With the way you guys defend this company, you’d think it was a goddamn religion. It’s a phone bro. You can happily use your device while being able to still criticize choices and practices.

But no, nobody here can do that.

First off. Are you old enough to know what a forum is? It's a place where people get to discuss and debate things. Not only is this a forum, its on a site that attracts people that predominantly like Apple. Being all shocked that you are getting Pro Apple replies here says a lot about you.

If you look at my past posts, you would see that I let Apple have it more times then I praise them. In this case, I agree with their position. When I do criticize apple here, I don't get all mad when the Apple sheep come out because it is common sense that they will be here.

I have clearly stated valid points in all my replies and your rebuttal is, "you don't see a problem? this logic makes zero sense" without explaining anything of why you feel that way. There is no point discussing anything with you because you have a lot of growing up to do.

You say its only a phone, yet here you are on a tech forum being a big man behind your tiny keyboard swearing at people. I think you need to take some of your own advice and chill bro. It's only a phone.

I will end by saying, Crying like a baby and resorting to personal attacks when someone doesn't agree with you shows your maturity level and stops anyone from taking you seriously. I am not going to report you but I hope someone does because if I was an administrator on this forum, I would ban you in heart beat.

 

[genovelle]

No, you can't. That's the problem. There is literally no alternative to Apple/Google in distributing mobile software. If your business is built on mobile software, then there is nowhere else to leave to.

Before the App Store there were web apps. The require a browser and a link with icon can be stored on the desk of any iPhone. So, if their product doesn’t require Apple’s hard work and marketing to be successful, they can build their own platform, signup their own customers and just link to their site online.

 

[genovelle]

Well it isn’t fair to others either way. Basically Apple is enforcing charges for value that do not deliver in any shape or form, there is a name for that. Just because you accept something it does not mean that it’s fair ... but leverage.

Apple is carving a bad vibe amongst entrepreneurs. They are going to be hit in multiple ways. But the worst I wonder if entrepreneurs will indeed embark on another Apple venture as they did before even if rules are enforced by law forcing them to change some practices. Have a look at Windows Store, heck Windows Phone altogether.

Apple can no longer be trusted on these matters as they were ... period. They valued themselves to this point.

It’s their name and platform trust that allows the transaction to happen in the first place. If that wasn’t the case they wouldn’t be trying to link out of the App to process payments. Part of being in business in knowing your cost upfront and pricing you offering accordingly. You determine the value of you product and service and price accordingly. Apple knows how much they need to make to continue to justify massive investments in their platforms. If it suddenly becomes U.N. profitable, thier interest will fade and it will begin to suffer and eventually die out and get canceled.

 

[UrbanJoe1]

"You download the app and it doesn’t work, that’s not what we want on the store,” says Schiller. This, he says, is why Apple requires in-app purchases to offer the same purchasing functionality as they would have elsewhere.

As said before, Apple corporatti can’t distinguish between “the store” and “the iphone.” To them it’s ONE thing “the experience.” And they use this premise of experiential perfection to justify their controlling, dominant, radical, monopolistic behavior which now spills over into censoring & controlling & interfering with businesses access to consumers. In their mind it’s for the (really their) greater good so it’s all good and if you don’t agree something is wrong with you. Well, you’ve created a product that’s disrupted everything we know of and so, yeah, you’ve lost the right to have godlike control. The possibilities of the internet take both hardware and software. At Apples scale they shouldn’t have COMPLETE control over both. Suck it up Royal Apples the monopoly party is OVER. This is America and gatekeepers ie. curators are not allowed. That’s for China & 3rd World dictatorships. Why are so many Silicon Valley technocrats so cozy with authoritarian regimes that treat their people so badly? Birds of a feather?

 

[Nuno Lopes]

It’s their name and platform trust that allows the transaction to happen in the first place. If that wasn’t the case they wouldn’t be trying to link out of the App to process payments. Part of being in business in knowing your cost upfront and pricing you offering accordingly.

This is a straw-man argument as this is not the issue. Just because you own something it does not mean you can do anything with it in every situation, take a gun for example. The market share Apple enjoys, in some spaces more that 50%, it down to its amazing work in the OS and Devices space. It’s than leveraging its App Store business on this work and at “point-gun” applying charges to services that they don’t provide in any shape or form. The issue is that most of the value is being extracted by Policy not actual services delivered to either customers or suppliers. Imagine extracting 30% out a Yoga Tranning business, its great isn’t it?

This needs to be fixed as with COVID if there were any doubts, the difference between digital or analog is imaterial.

Just the other day wanted to replace the battery of my iPhone X, as €1.300 machine. The device looks prestine, no marks ... nothing. We to to a Apple qualified Repair service shop and they noticed that the USB port was not working. I never did has I use Belkin wireless charger.

The reasoning was like this:

1) Apple does not allow us to repair the USB port.
2) We need it working to make tests on the battery
3) So we cannot replace the battery.

Solution. Pay €600 to replace the entire unit.

Meawhile went to a non qualified shop that would do what Apple seamed not equipped to do (bulshit) and they fixed it an hour. Than went back to the certified Apple shop passed all feasabiiity tests and they replaced the battery. Yes indeed an unqualified shop helped Apple to deliver their qualified service. Amazing.

Its understandable Apple wants to close all these non qualified shops. By doing this and with the aforementioned policy as leverage they can than pressure the customer to pay €600 to fix something that cost €60 (USB port). Imagine out of one ... sells two He he. No wonder Tim Cook is so interested in policy. Ima

Sorry, this needs to be regulated be because there seams to be an appetite to extract value from policy mainly and use that as leverage to squeeze the market. I understand that it does provide them with record profits year in year out. Of course this is not painted this way. It’s about security, danger to customers, etc etc.

 

[I7guy]

This is a straw-man argument as this is not the issue. Just because you own something it does not mean you can do anything with it in every situation, take a gun for example. The market share Apple enjoys, in some spaces more that 50%, it down to its amazing work in the OS and Devices space. It’s than leveraging its App Store business on this work and at “point-gun” applying charges to services that they don’t provide in any shape or form. The issue is that most of the value is being extracted by Policy not actual services delivered to either customers or suppliers.

On the other hand, companies want access to the iphone lucrative market base and feel they can skirt the rules, collect money from the customer and just walk away scott free. I understand Apples point here.

....
Sorry, this needs to be regulated be because there seams to be an appetite to extract value from policy mainly and use that as leverage to squeeze the market. I understand that it does provide them with record profits year in year out. Of course this is not painted this way. It’s about security, danger to customers, etc etc.

I disagree. To each their own opinions. However, the money comes as a result of the value add that Apple provides to developers and customers. (You going to argue that unless 100% of the developers are served appropriately, apple has failed?)

 

[Nuno Lopes]

I disagree. To each their own opinions. However, the money comes as a result of the value add that Apple provides to developers and customers. (You going to argue that unless 100% of the developers are served appropriately, apple has failed?)

I disagree. There is no value add provided to Yoga Services, wether digital or analog. I argue in most if not all services. It’s more valued probably to their customers to have a central payment and download service, so bill them!

It does provide a catalogue, payment and app distribution service and their pricing is way, I mean way over the market price.

Apple is effectively looking for a cut on any digital business going through it’s platform. They can try, it ok to try. But if one is a duck it lets them get away with it.

The absurdity is just that.

I think it’s great people are buying Apple devices and services, dvs customers and all.

App does provide a catalogue, payment and app distribution service and their pricing is way, I mean way over the market price. It can get away with it because it’s leveraging over its devices the market and customer after buying the devices are lock-in for awhile at least.

This is typical of Conglomerates. You see, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are not software, devices and services companies. They are in fact digital Conglomerates. Conglomerates are not illegal, but the application of leverages do need to be watched, regulated and stopped if necessary. I think time as come that it is because as explained above it recached the absurd.

If every one in the digital infrasructure business thought like Apple ... it would be fun. Apple others are standing of everyone and feeling entitled a 30% cut of all digital business through a simple Policy - what customers to pay within the app? Give me 30% of your business other wise don’t. It’s ridiculous. Some might argue extortion ... and because they are doing this in such a massive scale of course not doing it for some would be unfair to others

In conclusion, going digital and reaching your customers the best way possible it’s not an option, it’s a necessity. That is were most of the value is. Businesses don’t control the devices their customer want or need to use to access their services. That is what is fundamentally playing at the moment.

Meawhile their App Store profits soar ... typical.

 

[I7guy]

I disagree. There is no value add in a Yoga Services, wether digital or analog. I argue in most if not all services. It’s more valued probably to their customers to have a central payment and download service, so bill them!

It does provide a catalogue, payment and app distribution service and their pricing is way, I mean way over the market price.

Apple is effectively looking for a cut on any digital business going through it’s platform. They can try, it ok to try. But if one is a duck it lets them get away with it.
Apple is effectively looking for a cut on any digital business going through it’s platform. They can try, it ok to try. But if one is a duck it lets them get away with it.

The absurdity is just that.

I think it’s great people are buying Apple devices and services, dvs customers and all.

App does provide a catalogue, payment and app distribution service and their pricing is way, I mean way over the market price. It get away with it because it’s leveraging over the the market share it has on devices.

This is typical of Conglomerates. You see, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Amazon are not software, devices and services companies. They are in fact Conglomerates. Conglomerates are not illegal, but the application of leverages do need to be watched, regulated and stopped if necessary. I think time as come that it is because as explained above it recached the absurd.

If every one in the digital infrasructure business thought like Apple ... it would be fun. Apple is staring on the shoulders of everyone and feeling entitled a 30% cut of all digital business through a simple Policy - what customers to pay within the app? Give me 30% of your business other wise don’t. It’s ridiculous. Some might argue extortion ... and because they are doing this in such a massive scale of course not doing it for some would be unfair to others

Meawhile their App Store profits soar ... typical.

I've stated my opinion and it's all good, we are on opposite ends.

The app store is the ios distribution platform. Nobody is forcing a dev to develop for ios. The services the app store provides seem to be consistent with what a dev would have to pay to market, manage their own digital app. Of course the app store is a safer haven then the internet at wild.

At this point there is no alternative. Apple might be forced in the future to do something different, but right now it is what is. As a consumer this is a good option for me. Arguing on behalf of an unknown developer to me is somewhat disingenuous. (and I'm an ex-dev)

As far as the profits, sure. What it means is that Apple is doing the right job with the app store.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

The app store is the ios distribution platform. Nobody is forcing a dev to develop for ios.

That is were you are fundamentally mistaken. Digital services have no control over what devices they customers use. They need to serve them were they are, the best they can on the devices they use.

This lack of devs control over the devices customers use has been good. Very good. It fosters competition, innovation, competitive pricing etc etc.

But if A company holds ransom 30%
of my customers because they have chosen a particular device for reasons nothing to with the App Store, than it becomes a problem. Because the stacking of my need to serve the customers and paired with Apple policy, indeed forces my hand if at least we aim to provide the same level of service across platforms. Heck, it forces the hand of all digital services in the world including governmental if Apple decided. Imagine paying your taxes on an iOS device to the GOV ... and by the way why not give Apple 30% of that as we are at it! Why not? You see, Apple makes taxation easier and faster, and customer love 30% more the apps than in any other device, heck is it becomes just like yoga, I can always see an Apple commercial (sarcasm). I am sure Govs would love to give Apple 30% of the taxes collected through the iPhone. If it is not fair to the Gov, to tax payers, why is it than fair to the Yoga Business?

All that I’m saying is that there is value in the App Store indeed, but a cut of of 30% of the revenue of all digital business is way above the value of the service provided. What they are doing is opening exception to this aim as they are forced to change the policy to avoid lawsuits.

Instead of paying billions in law suits and have their image deteriorate as it happened to MS why not spend that money to make it less reliant on the leverage stated in the first three paragraphs.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

On the other hand, companies want access to the iphone lucrative market base and feel they can skirt the rules,

One more thing. What lucrative market. Check how many apps there are in the store cross reference that with the sales, say last year, you will see that only 5% make more than 5k a year or so. So indeed it’s down to block busters, and lets face it, hitting a blockbuster have little to do with Apple work.

 

[I7guy]

One more thing. What lucrative market. Check how many apps there are in the store cross reference that with the sales, say last year, you will see that only 5% make more than 5k a year or so. So indeed it’s down to block busters, and lets face it, hitting a blockbuster have little to do with Apple work.

Candy crush made a killing. People want to develop because they have a hope, dream and hopefully talent. Doesn't guarantee success. But the app store by my anecdotal opinion is considered a lucrative market.