This has a VERY clear downside, and it’s a shame Apple and Amazon couldn’t come together. I blame neither party more than the other, but this rule has had a bad outcome, plain and simple.
Let’s also remember that this rule has actual advantages too—for us as users: Having all in-app purchases work the same! For security, ease-of-use, and peace of mind that’s good. Is it good enough to be worth putting up with heading to the web for those companies who won’t play along? I don’t know. But it IS a good thing, along with all the bad. Like most controversial calls Apple makes, there’s both a good and a bad side, even though people pretend to see only one or the other.
Now, given that, if purchases are done through Apple’s system, then Apple’s handling the credit card fees, customer service, infrastructure, R&D (for the iTunes back-end), etc.... and should certainly get a cut!
How much of a cut? That’s a negotiation between two companies, and beyond my experience. Still, I can armchair-negotiate and say that 30% sounds high! Because Apple’s handling only the transaction, NOT serving the files. I’d think some lower % would be appropriate in that case.
But Apple certainly CANNOT let their bluff be called too many times. They’ve shown much flexibility in the past, and I’m sure they always will. But if, say, they cave to Amazon now, what happens when the movie labels want to slap some more DRM on us, or something? We users benefit a lot from Apple’s clout with content providers. Hopefully this is just a step in the back-and-forth, leading to some future agreement that works better for all: Apple, Amazon, other companies, and especially us, the content buyers.
stupid really stupid apple, dont be so nitpicking all the time
Agreed. Apple should let their huge, profitable competitors break the rules. Rules are not for everyone! Only for the little guys. They need to send the message that they’ll bow to whatever their competition wants.
What? Compensated for providing traffic?
You can't be serious. Do you really believe that Apple deserves a cut from every purchase made from safari browser.
And no, a button to a homepage is not free advertising.
Providing traffic via our iTunes accounts and credit cards that Apple has on file (and makes incredibly easy/inviting/trusted) is offering Amazon FAR more than just letting people, on their own, view a web page and enter their credentials conventionally. You can’t equate the two.
