Apple Blocked Facebook Update Highlighting Apple's In-App Purchase Fees

[macdos]

Well, they have to do this. Apple is all about greed, about monetization. It used to be about cool products, but not anymore.

With a valuation of $2,000,000,000,000 on the stock market, and with P/E 40, they are looking at defending a future value of $80,000,000,000,000. There is no market for that, esepcially if the US decouples from China. So they slam their logo on albums and try to make revenues on "services" instead of hardware, ripping off developers.

 

[dguisinger]

Well, they have to do this. Apple is all about greed, about monetization. It used to be about cool products, but not anymore.

With a valuation of $2,000,000,000,000 on the stock market, and with P/E 40, they are looking at defending a future value of $80,000,000,000,000. There is no market for that, esepcially if the US decouples from China. So they slam their logo on albums and try to make revenues on "services" instead of hardware, ripping off developers.

The "Tim Cook" era....everyone who keeps talking about how great Apple has done under him are basing it off revenue and profits, which is mostly growing because they get to lazily collect money that everyone else has earned and that Apple has no involvement in. That's not greatness

 

[PieTunes]

Maybe Apple should require Facebook to be more transparent with what they do with peoples' data. Display and explain everything more prominently within their app for the benefit of users. Or would Facebook consider such information to be "irrelevant?"

 

[Just sayin...]

This is just Facebook throwing a fit over the upcoming iOS 14 tracking block. They’re MAD that somebody is threating their monetization of YOU.

 

[Carlanga]

How is this "irrelevant" information to users? Bad PR move by Apple on this IMO

 

[Carlanga]

Maybe Apple should require Facebook to be more transparent with what they do with peoples' data. Display and explain everything more prominently within their app for the benefit of users. Or would Facebook consider such information to be "irrelevant?"

FB does not run on apple servers so they don't have to say anything to apple IMO. Now having FB access other parts of iOS there is a valid problem they can complain about (which they are doing w ios 14).

 

[darkpaw]

If this is a feature that Facebook have added to their own app, then it is up to Facebook to explain the 30% cut to THEIR SELLERS, not to the BUYERS of the tickets. The seller is the entity that has the contract with Facebook, and Facebook should explain to them that they'll be giving them $6.99 for each $9.99 ticket sold via Facebook's mobile app. And, Facebook should allow sellers to state that they don't want to sell their tickets via their mobile app.

 

[topdrawer]

what's wrong with being transparent with clients about how pricing is broken down?

 

[mi7chy]

That's why Apple News is dead because people want unbiased and unfiltered news. Apple only lets you see what they want you to see while suppressing what they don't want you to see.

 

[ravenstar]

Think this is an Apple forum, why should anyone complain about Android?

Because they're all complaining about Apple being a "monopoly". I disagree in that there is competition from Android, but the competition is putting in a weak effort. Google and other phone makers together easily have enough resources to be a serious contender but they seem satisfied with the status quo. They make enough money without a full on competition. In my opinion Apple is being unfairly condemned because they were willing to compete but when they got there there no one else showed up. Free market advocates should be all over Google for its pathetic second place rather than trying to bring down what many feel is the superior competitor.

As for Google being investigated, again, I don't see it really amounting to more than lip service from politicians.

 

[4487549]

Apple wants you to know where your data is going as long as it's not where your money is going.

 

[Ramchi]

Apple revoked Facebook and Google’s enterprise certificates a year ago. They don’t seem to have a problem enforcing their rules.

I was responding to the post that FB is in App Store since Apple was allowing it to exist there. I merely challenged that by asking Apple to remove the App (not enterprise licenses etc) from App Store. I am sure Facebook won't mind losing its 15% global customer base.

 

[SevenSeas]

30% is hardly irrelevant. Apple is continuously toying with my emotions.

 

[ohmydays]

I’m usually an “Apple sheep”, but this is ridiculous. Apple are still getting their cut and Facebook isn’t getting any of the money because they want to support small businesses (even though I hate them too). Facebook deserves the right to show the notice, even if they’re just an exception because of the good cause.

 

[ohmydays]

It seems that Apple is going to have to adjust their 30% take from all Apps. There is just too much noise surrounding it now and it would probably be a wise move to lower it slightly just to make this constant bad press go away.

It’s always been that way, since the beginning. They’ve never increased it, only lowered it (for subscriptions and for devs in 2nd year of being in the Developer Program). It’s pretty standard:

 

[Realityck]

It’s always been that way, since the beginning. They’ve never increased it, only lowered it (for subscriptions and for devs in 2nd year of being in the Developer Program). It’s pretty standard:

I think what's happening is that this expanding insight in how the tech industry charges fees for running online store that are just digital transactions that can be compared to a credit card processing fee of 3% is making every business using the same tactic look bad.

You guys trying to defend Apple now are in turn defending the whole tech industry practice of excessive commissions on just a in store transaction.

It was ignored, buried for the longest time, nobody considered it evil, but now even though Apple has done it best to say this is how we always has done it, is now looked at by a lot more people as excessive as it becomes visible. Whether it can remain for the long term is really why all of us are talking about this in almost daily topics created in this forum.

 

[Smoothie]

The case against Apple's App Store Monopoly is getting stronger and stronger, thanks to Apple.

Seriously? "irrelevant" information? This is extremely relevant information especially when it comes to money.

Sellers will obviously wonder why they're getting 30% less and will assume Facebook took it. All these little things adds up to a pretty compelling case against Apple's App Monopoly.

The Sherman Antitrust Act doesn't make having a monopoly in the relevant market illegal. However, if that monopoly power is used to anticompetitive effect, then it is illegal. This is what Microsoft was charged with in 1998 when Microsoft claimed that Internet Explorer was a part of Windows (which dominated the OS market), making it difficult for Netscape and other browser companies to compete.

Apple seems to be treading dangerously close to crossing the line.

 

[hagar]

ROFL - you know Facebook owns Instagram and WhatsApp? Do you? Guess two reasons why people buy a smartphone today? How many phones would Apple sell today without Insta, WA, Snapchat, Twitter, TikTok, Facebook... What do you think? 20% ?

Except for WA I don’t have any of these apps on my phone. Because they suck and drain my battery, invade my privacy, send countless notifications and waste my time. After deleting them a few years ago, I never looked back. If I could delete WA, I would as well. Granted, I’m probably an exception.

 

[pascacio]

I just want to ask... why isn't apple forcing uber to use In-app purchases? When you get an uber you pay with cash, credit, debit or even paypal 🤔

What is different there?

 

[Naraxus]

Keep it classy Apple

 

[AdonisSMU]

I'm sure Facebook knew this would be noticed and blocked, but it feeds the media storm. Crazy stuff at the moment. A lot of big names ganging up. It'll be interesting to see how it ends. Fight the fight, Apple

facebook is upset about not being apple to track peoples phones. We know what their angling for. They want less security so they can track you even after youve said no thanks.
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I just want to ask... why isn't apple forcing uber to use In-app purchases? When you get an uber you pay with cash, credit, debit or even paypal 🤔

What is different there?

The service isnt software only.

 

[rgbrock1]

Apple is well overdue for a good, solid smack down.

 

[AdonisSMU]

The Sherman Antitrust Act doesn't make having a monopoly in the relevant market illegal. However, if that monopoly power is used to anticompetitive effect, then it is illegal. This is what Microsoft was charged with in 1998 when Microsoft claimed that Internet Explorer was a part of Windows (which dominated the OS market), making it difficult for Netscape and other browser companies to compete.

Apple seems to be treading dangerously close to crossing the line.

There is a significant difference here. One is a phone one is a computer. People expect a greater level if privacy protection on their phones than they do their computer. Secondly, MSFT was on 90% of all PCs. Thats a significant difference. In this case facebook is just choosing to highlight that Apple takes a 30% cut but Google does the same thing. MSFT does the same thing. Why would FB single out Apple? Apple wont allow Facebook to invade peoples privacy inside and outside their apps. 🤔

 

[rumz]

Stop making it all about you, you aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things.
Banning all Facebook apps from iOS would plummet iOS hardware sales and marketshare. Fact is, A LOT of people use their services and rely on them for different methods of communication.

First: is it a different story on Android? Is Google collecting 30% of those small business event fees? From what I can tell, the difference is that google allows “Facebook Pay” to be used, and that if a user pays with Facebook Pay, Facebook allows 100% to go to the event host... “for at least for the next year.”

Second: I think you’re dreaming if you think that iOS sales would absolutely plummet. I would love to see your belief here tested and let Apple ban all those apps. I would love to hear any significant amount of people say “well I’m switching to Android to get the Facebook app.” Hey— it’s possible, even if I think it highly unlikely. And that would be a consequence that could get Apple to reconsider its position, don’t you think?

I just do not believe Facebook has that kind of brand loyalty when it comes to buying a device, especially with the events of recent years. If they do, maybe they can try selling a Facebook phone again like they failed so hard at some years ago. No, I’m convinced Facebook needs iOS and iOS users more than Apple needs Facebook. Again, if Google is playing ball with Facebook Pay and people switch to Android over that one thing— well then Apple can re-examine their policies and decisions if its really having an impact on their business.

Facebook has a vested interest in having their service on every platform they can be on. I don’t blame them for trying to have some influence over the platforms they’re on when it affects their bottom line. But I doubt they’d actually pull their apps or do something to get their apps pulled from iOS. Again... I’d love to see how it played out.

Facebook Says Apple's iOS 14 Anti-Tracking Features Will Cut 50% of its Audience Network Ad Revenue

Facebook today warned advertisers that Apple's upcoming anti-tracking tools could cause a more than 50 percent drop in Audience Network publisher...

www.macrumors.com

 

[sdf]

Facebook should be glad Apple lets their app in the App Store at all. After all the scandals, privacy issues, battery sucking schemes to keep the app running in the background, ... surely there must be other rules the app has been violating all these years.

I think almost every privacy feature Apple has added over the years has been in lieu of just banning Facebook and apps like them.

I'm all for the privacy features being added, I just don't think this had to be a "secure OR ban" situation. Maybe Apple likes having an app they can examine to find all the new abuse ideas in one place.