Airmail Users Frustrated About Sudden Switch to Subscription-Based Pricing on iPhone and iPad [Updated]

It's also a violation of Apple's guidelines to charge for push notifications.

"3.2.2 Unacceptable ... (ii) Monetizing built-in capabilities provided by the hardware or operating system, such as Push Notifications, the camera, or the gyroscope; or Apple services, such as Apple Music access or iCloud storage."

I wonder why this is allowed.
 
BECAUSE DEVELOPERS NEED TO EAT EVEN IF IT MEANS BREAKING APPLE LAW. Imagine if every developer did what this sketchy dev did.

jack5789 said:
It's also a violation of Apple's guidelines to charge for push notifications.

"3.2.2 Unacceptable ... (ii) Monetizing built-in capabilities provided by the hardware or operating system, such as Push Notifications, the camera, or the gyroscope; or Apple services, such as Apple Music access or iCloud storage."

I wonder why this is allowed.
Click to expand...
 
pjny said:
BECAUSE DEVELOPERS NEED TO EAT EVEN IF IT MEANS BREAKING APPLE LAW. Imagine if every developer did what this sketchy dev did.
Click to expand...

SEGA did a really sketchy thing with Super Monkey Ball as well. I paid for it years ago and had it on my iPhone and iPad. They didn't update the app to work with future versions of iOS, so I was no longer able to open the app after a few years. They just updated the app to work with the current version of iOS and now they're charging *everyone* a fee to use the updated version of the app, even though they didn't add any content. I don't know why that's allowed either.
 
jonblatho said:
You can send push notifications from a DigitalOcean server that costs $5/mo; it just involves sending an authenticated network request with a notification payload to APNS. As long as they’re convincing at least 2 people per month to buy the app at the old one-time price of $4.99, then they’ve made their money back on notifications with a couple bucks to spare.

Of course, that’s an overly simplistic view. But especially at their scale, push notifications should be a relatively negligible expense.
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Well I guess sending billions push notifications per month needs more than a single DO $5 droplet. It would be interesting to know the real numbers. But as I said, I think the real reason to switch to subscription-based pricing is different / obvious.
 
That's me out. I've already paid for it. I've had enough of these games from Dev's. I get if you add something significant then I will consider giving you more. IE: work hard and you'll get more money but improve your product but removing or changing something already and asking for money considering I've already paid for it, well I'd call that questionably legal.
 
Outlook has been a great multi-account email client for me. The stock Apple one isn't that horrible either in a pinch.
 
shimy1984 said:
They just committed suicide.

There is no coming back from this. Users will jump ship at a record pace.

They will attempt to course correct in the coming months, but the damage is done.

They’ll be forced to close shop within a year and a half.

Such a predictable fate.
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You might be surprised how many people will pay for this.
 
Martius said:
Well I guess sending billions push notifications per month needs more than a single DO $5 droplet. It would be interesting to know the real numbers. But as I said, I think the real reason to switch to subscription-based pricing is different / obvious.
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Somebody needs a Ferrari? It's their system. If they are seeing a lot of traffic, and a lot of users, the money from purchases is a one time thing. If user-ship is down, its a blackhole, if user-ship is up, it's a way to recoup some expensive that don't stop...
 
MacRumors said:
Airmail users awoke today to find out that the popular email app has switched to a subscription-based pricing model on the iPhone and iPad.
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Here, fixed it:

"Airmail users awoke today to find out that the popular email app has switched to a rental model"

Let's start calling this what it is: software rental. The minute you stop paying, you're left empty-handed. You have to keep letting the developer put their hand in your wallet every single month, forever, as long as you want to use the software. The math often works out pretty horribly for the user.

The only app I know of that has a proper subscription model is Agenda. You pay for a year's worth of new feature updates up front. When the year is up, if you don't renew you keep the premium features you paid for and the app still functions. There may be others that work this way but I don't know of any myself. It's basically a variation on the traditional model of buying software, but you pay for updates up front. The point is, you're left with something you own at the end of the year.
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dumastudetto said:
Developers need to eat. You can help feed them by paying for products and services.
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That doesn't mean they get a blank check.

Here's a thought: if the app you developed has plateaued in sales, write and sell another effing app.
 
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I don't like subscription software. I understand developers need to make money, but this is an anti-consumer practice on AirMail's developers part and it shows how greedy they are. Just recently, Iconfactory did the same sleazy business practice by forcing ads for users who are already paid for the app in the new version of Twitterrific and demand that the users pay again through a subscription or a one time fee that is several times more than what it originally costs. Businesses who pull these kinds of moves deserves the backlash from the users.
 
There are so many problems with this, but I have uninstalled it and moved on to Outlook. There is no coming back from this and I'm a user who paid for both their iOS and macOS applications.

They could have easily introduced new features that included a subscription if they wanted to, but to drop notifications on an email client is unacceptable for users who paid full price for the app. Easiest path would have been to grandfather in existing users and add a "package" to get around trying to sell Push Notifications which violates Apple's rules similar to whatever the heck Apollo is doing.

But I don't use subscription apps as much as humanely possible. I'm not trying to end up managing app subscriptions as a second job. As otherwise, you'll end up spending hundreds of bucks on apps every month...
 
jack5789 said:
It's also a violation of Apple's guidelines to charge for push notifications.

"3.2.2 Unacceptable ... (ii) Monetizing built-in capabilities provided by the hardware or operating system, such as Push Notifications, the camera, or the gyroscope; or Apple services, such as Apple Music access or iCloud storage."

I wonder why this is allowed.
Click to expand...
They could have pushed a server-side change that impacts users regardless of whether they updated the app (and it's debatable the exact extent to which push notifications count as "capabilities" in this section).
 
I am happy to pay a developer for good software, which is why I paid Bloop for both the iOS & macOS versions a while ago. And even now, $9.99 per year is not that much to pay for software that one would use every single day. But it is an under-handed business decision that lacks integrity to handle the update the way they have, by posting an incremental update without notice to your most loyal of customers as to the ramifications for updating.

I've been a happy AirMail user for a long time, going back to 2014 or 2015 I think, but when you pull these kinds of shenanigans you will lose people quickly. It was nice knowing you AirMail, I'm onto green pastures.
 
ocanalix said:
Airmail was fantastic, but it's been declining. Sadly there's no decent replacement. Last week they also revamped the whole iOS app without warning – all customisation features basically removed.

Edit: Where exactly is the 4 months free Premium? When you attempt to turn on notifications it asks you to pay up…
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Try Spark, Outlook or Apple Mail.
 
I smell a class action suit coming... Before looking at the "TOS", I would have to believe this would violate consumer protection laws here in the US. You cannot sell something to someone, they pay you and then they say, sorry... but JK, you need to pay us more for the same service we already charged you for.

Charging the customer based on the new model can ONLY apply to new purchases, not past purchases.
 
this is a rotten bait and switch done by Airmail. Their customers who paid for this app many years ago should be flagged as Lifetime users free of their BS subscription model that they are throwing down upon us.. this is WRONG on so many levels!
 
I love using my @outlook.com and the Outlook email client with it. It works great for my personal email needs. Not sure why you would pay for email in 2019.
 
LogicalApex said:
Apple Mail or Outlook if privacy is top of mind. I believe Outlook has a better PP than Spark which clearly mines your email.
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What is Spark data mining and what are they doing with it that is a danger to privacy? Not seeing anything overtly nefarious in their privacy policy. You can request a copy of all your data and their apps allow you to easily click a button and remove all your data from their servers.
 
Unless I have a business and can deduct it, I’m not using and paid email app. Paying for PUSH to each their own obviously, but email is pretty basic, so I don’t see the need. However, email is a personal thing, and we’ve seen over the years clients that people would practically die for, so I understand the loyalty to an app.
 
zapmymac said:
Unless I have a business and can deduct it, I’m not using and paid email app.
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Back in 2013 when I purchased Airmail, there were not nearly as many choices for clients that did what Airmail could. In particular, handle multiple accounts well and intuitively and across multiple devices. Airmail was sorta cutting edge back then. Well above and beyond the experience of Apple Mail, at the time.

For those of us who purchased the client(s), it worked well and did what we needed, so there was little incentive to switch. After all, we (thought) we owned the software.

As one of the early purchasers (nearly 6 years), I am certainly disappointed in the change of direction towards a subscription model, but I got my moneys worth out of Airmail. As others have noted, there are a number of similar and equally capable clients out there today.

Yes, it is a pain to switch and, for many, being thrust into choosing between paying, switching or living without push notifications. But we pay for a lot of things with an undetermined shelf life. Life goes on.
 
dumastudetto said:
Developers need to eat. You can help feed them by paying for products and services.
Click to expand...
I agree in the sense that developers has the right to charge whatever amount they deem appropriate for their app. On the other hand, imo the way they do this is not good marketing. It would’ve probably been better if they do a new version of the app that is free and subscription based. Keep the old app available but deprecate any new features or updates for it. That way old users don’t feel jibbed, while the developer can transition to the new business model for new users.
 
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