Audible has added support for purchasing audiobooks directly in its iOS app, with no need to use a browser, in what appears to be a relaxation of App Store rules.
Audible subscribers receive at least one credit per month to buy and download audiobooks. This process was previously only possible through the Audible website, but now users can simply purchase titles with their credits from the Audible catalog directly in the app by tapping "Add to Library."
The requirement to use the Audible website instead of in the app was believed to be down to Apple's rules around in-app purchases and its 30 percent commission on eligible digital goods. Other companies such as Netflix also require users to subscribe in a browser and then log in via the app to avoid Apple's fees.
Although it is now possible to purchase books with credits, it remains impossible to buy additional credits or initiate a membership subscription in the app.
It is as yet unclear what change occurred to facilitate this major change for Audible users, and it may simply be the case that purchases in Audible are now permitted since they are reliant on credits paid for outside of the app, rather than direct in-app purchases. Nevertheless, there appears to have been some kind of reinterpretation of the App Store rules that has allowed for the change.
Currently, it is not possible to buy e-books through the Kindle iOS app for the same reasons, but the change within Audible may indicate that similar functionality may be possible within the Kindle app too in due course.
Version 3.45 of the Audible app, featuring the new Add to Library option, is available now.
Article Link: Audible Now Supports In-App Audiobook Purchases in Possible Relaxation of App Store Rules
