App Store VP Departs as Apple Prepares for Organizational Changes

[MacRumors]

App Store vice president Matt Fischer is set to leave the company as Apple prepares for an App Store reorganization to deal with regulatory changes, reports Bloomberg.

Apple plans to split its App Store group into two teams, one that handles the App Store and a second team that oversees alternative app distribution. As of earlier this year, Apple has supported iOS app downloads from alternative app stores and from websites in the European Union, a change that the company had to make to comply with the Digital Markets Act.

To handle ongoing compliance with EU regulations for app distribution and alternative payment methods, App Store chief Phil Schiller is changing the App Store's hierarchy.

Fischer joined Apple in 2003 to oversee iTunes marketing, but he has served as the vice president of the App Store since 2010. In an email to Apple employees today, Fischer said that he had been thinking about leaving Apple for some time, and the reorganization provided the right opportunity.

With Fischer leaving, App Store senior director Carson Oliver will oversee the App Store, and Ann Thai, a director who oversees App Store features, will head up the team that handles alternative app distribution.

Article Link: App Store VP Departs as Apple Prepares for Organizational Changes

 

[jz0309]

people come, people go. Wish him luck in his new endeavor, whatever they might be

 

[CarAnalogy]

As long as Phil Schiller is still ultimately in charge, nothing will change.

They will still bend over backwards to minimally comply with regulation, and continue to purposely miss the point of why so many people are criticizing the App Store in the first place.

I don't understand how it was easier or better in any way to split the App Store like this. They need a fundamental re-analysis of what they're doing with software distribution, and it's not going to happen with Schiller in charge.

I thought they promoted him out of the App Store by making him a technical fellow and semi-retiring him. But since then he's still been writing whiskey-fueled public letters and making executive decisions.

 

[krspkbl]

Sounds promising! More countries need to force Apple to open up the App Store. Good that Apple is preparing for this.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Apple plans to split its App Store group into two teams, one that handles the App Store and a second team that oversees alternative app distribution

They should split their App Store group into two teams instead: One that handles software application stores and a second team that oversees the "core platform" as a means of distributing apps.

 

[SteveJobsOfficial]

Sounds promising! More countries need to force Apple to open up the App Store. Good that Apple is preparing for this.

Apple doesn't need to open up the App Store. It's their store and they can run it however they like.

That said, because iOS has over a billion active users who depend on it for day to day usage, both personal, school, and professional settings, the level of utility status means that Apple should not be able to artificially restrict users to the App Store and force a cut out of whoever is selling to the users.

 

[AppliedMicro]

Ann Thai, a director that oversees App Store features, will head up the team that handles alternative app distribution

Elsewhere: "Ann Thai, a director in charge of App Store features like search and discovery, will run the new team responsible for alternative distribution"

👉 Given how well those features work on Apple's App Store today, what could go wrong on alternative app distribution?

 

[Krizoitz]

continue to purposely miss the point of why so many people are criticizing the App Store in the first place.

LOL, “so many”, riiiiight.

They know why a minority of people are criticizing the App Store, they just don’t agree. Of course they are going to do the minimum possible and drag their feet. The whole situation is an asinine abuse of power by the EU to benefit a handful of EU companies like Spotify and a MASSIVE waste of Apples time and resources.

 

[ProbablyDylan]

I'm not sure what this resolves for Apple. Still, looking forward to see how the situation develops.

 

[WarmWinterHat]

Apple doesn't need to open up the App Store. It's their store and they can run it however they like.

That said, because iOS has over a billion active users who depend on it for day to day usage, both personal, school, and professional settings, the level of utility status means that Apple should not be able to artificially restrict users to the App Store and force a cut out of whoever is selling to the users.

It's my phone and I should be able to do whatever I like with it, apple-approved or otherwise.

I don't think companies should be allowed to control how consumers use their devices.

LOL, “so many”, riiiiight.

They know why a minority of people are criticizing the App Store, they just don’t agree. Of course they are going to do the minimum possible and drag their feet. The whole situation is an asinine abuse of power by the EU to benefit a handful of EU companies like Spotify and a MASSIVE waste of Apples time and resources.

Japan is requiring the App Store to open up. India is discussing it as well.

What are their reasons?

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Phil announcing the layoffs on the same day as his raise

 

[AppliedMicro]

The whole situation is an asinine abuse of power by the EU to benefit a handful of EU companies like Spotify and a MASSIVE waste of Apples time and resources.

It's going to benefit many companies - and many of them aren't European ones.

 

[Dark_Omen]

As long as Phil Schiller is still ultimately in charge, nothing will change.

They will still bend over backwards to minimally comply with regulation, and continue to purposely miss the point of why so many people are criticizing the App Store in the first place.

I don't understand how it was easier or better in any way to split the App Store like this. They need a fundamental re-analysis of what they're doing with software distribution, and it's not going to happen with Schiller in charge.

I thought they promoted him out of the App Store by making him a technical fellow and semi-retiring him. But since then he's still been writing whiskey-fueled public letters and making executive decisions.

Instead of the App Store, Schiller should be in charge of retail stores.

Move Apple Store employees to hourly + commission pay, headed by a former VP of marketing and sales.

$50 per MacBook Pro. $25 per MacBook Air. 5% payout of gross accessory profit. $15 per iPhone. Suddenly you'll have workers that are paid well.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't do it. It would increase profits even more.

 

[Stiksi]

Elsewhere: "Ann Thai, a director in charge of App Store features like search and discovery, will run the new team responsible for alternative distribution"

👉 Given how well those features work on Apple's App Store today, what could go wrong on alternative app distribution?

Well, if anyone can bury alternative app stores so no one will ever find them, that's who. This is just Apple recognizing talent and utilizing it fully.

 

[platinumaqua]

It's my phone and I should be able to do whatever I like with it, apple-approved or otherwise.

I don't think companies should be allowed to control how consumers use their devices.



Japan is requiring the App Store to open up. India is discussing it as well.

What are their reasons?

Rephrasing what SteveJobsOfficial posted: App Store can stayed locked up because it’s Apple’s service, but they should open up the device to allow installations from other places

 

[BelgianChoklit]

I'm all for lower fees to developers, just not for developers under the name of Epic.

 

[specialstyle]

Cool guess we'll see what changes occur now.

 

[Stiksi]

Instead of the App Store, Schiller should be in charge of retail stores.

Move Apple Store employees to hourly + commission pay, headed by a former VP of marketing and sales.

$50 per MacBook Pro. $25 per MacBook Air. 5% payout of gross accessory profit. $15 per iPhone. Suddenly you'll have workers that are paid well.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't do it. It would increase profits even more.

Apple hasn't fixed the flaw in macbooks that can fry the gpu if there's high air moisture because it requires a part that costs a couple $ more per unit. How do you think they feel about paying employees $50 per sold unit? Sure, it might sell more macbooks but it's way too many beans from their perspective.

 

[serryjeinfeld]

Phil Schiller be still there.

 

[AppliedMicro]

I'm all for lower fees to developers, just not for developers under the name of Epic.

Funny, given how a company called "Epic" is one of the main actors lobbying and legally fighting for lower fees to developers.

 

[Abazigal]

Instead of the App Store, Schiller should be in charge of retail stores.

Move Apple Store employees to hourly + commission pay, headed by a former VP of marketing and sales.

$50 per MacBook Pro. $25 per MacBook Air. 5% payout of gross accessory profit. $15 per iPhone. Suddenly you'll have workers that are paid well.

I don't understand why Apple doesn't do it. It would increase profits even more.

Apple stores work precisely because retail staff aren’t driven by commissions and are not constantly trying to push customers to buy more stuff.

You really don’t understand, or you are deliberately being sarcastic / obtuse here?

 

[JapanApple]

Sounds promising! More countries need to force Apple to open up the App Store. Good that Apple is preparing for this.

Stockholders more wealthy I can deal with that

 

[icanhazmac]

Just to offer a different opinion:

and continue to purposely miss the point of why so many people are criticizing the App Store in the first place

...and continue to support those that like the app store just the way it is!

Of course we cannot quantify actual numbers but I doubt "so many people" are criticizing anything, outside of techies, fans of emulators and bewbie apps.

I don't understand how it was easier or better in any way to split the App Store like this.

Thankfully they split it, so the rest of us don't have to deal with the mess that the EU has and hopefully we never will.

 

[Dark_Omen]

Apple stores work precisely because retail staff aren’t driven by commissions and are not constantly trying to push customers to buy more stuff.

You really don’t understand, or you are deliberately being sarcastic / obtuse here?

Yeah I guess I don't understand, even though I work in the field. You're right.

I guess me trying to push higher pay for the employees is a bad thing.

 

[icanhazmac]

Move Apple Store employees to hourly + commission pay, headed by a former VP of marketing and sales.

$50 per MacBook Pro. $25 per MacBook Air. 5% payout of gross accessory profit. $15 per iPhone.

Good god no, why would you want that? Then employees are constantly trying to "one up" sales. As an example, if an Air is perfect for customer X then the employee is wasting time trying to pressure the customer into a Pro for the commission. Furthermore, just like in car sales, the concept of being "up" will creep into the culture as employees jockey for opportunities. They might also judge customers and bypass accessory folks looking for those that "appear" to be looking for systems.

Suddenly you'll have workers that are paid well.

I believe that Apple retail employees are regarded as having a pretty good package already compared to other retail positions. I would argue that a slow week of customers can cut into your pay while luck of the draw benefitted a coworker. In theory it all averages out but I prefer a base/bonus plan over base commission. Bonuses can be paid based on overall store performance or an employees rating with customers, etc.

Apple stores work precisely because retail staff aren’t driven by commissions and are not constantly trying to push customers to buy more stuff.

I agree 100% and never have been a fan of the commission structure for the reasons listed above. What you could do is offer something for add-on sales like AC+ or cases, etc. The kinds of things that savvy shoppers buy outside of the Apple store as not to pay the "Apple Tax" on expensive accessories.