Seems to me like a favorable outcome for Apple. I mean, let's be honest, prohibiting out of the store purchases would not fly anymore anyway, it's not something that society at this point would accept. But the judge has confirmed that Apple does not need to do anything besides the bare minimum, and that they are within their right to make any linking to the outside payment information as awkward as possible (e.g. by requiring the user to type the link manually). In fact, Apple does not need to implement anything at all — they simply are not allowed to reject apps that include a link to outside payment info.
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Judge Says Apple Has Until December 9 to Make App Store Change Letting Developers Link to Alternate Payment Methods
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I’m not willing to pay apple 30/15% extra in all perpetuity on my subscriptions for it. Because that’s what it’s costing.
I don’t like this, this will also mean that the developers fee will go up so that’s going to hurt small developers, so I guess I won’t be buying many app or in app purchases anymore once this happen, there’s going to be a influx of weird payment providers.
But you are willing to pay 30/15% to somebody else? Do you think there is anyone doing payment processing for free?
Yes, the processing fees are what, normally around 2% or less. The rest is going to the developer, which gives me a better app, a cheaper app or more content.
Where did this come from? Because they demand a percentage of the revenue for using their services and the distribution network? How odd... surely you think that Apple has to offer all of it for free...
Yes but they are denied to inform their users freely in their apps.
Yeah, right now it's "How the f do I download new Kindle books? I have no idea? Why does the Apple Books app just have it integrated? Maybe I'll switch..."
And the bonkers thing is you can do exactly this, purchase books on Kindle from the Mac App Store! That's not sideloaded... What the hell, Apple?
And the bonkers thing is you can do exactly this, purchase books on Kindle from the Mac App Store! That's not sideloaded... What the hell, Apple?
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If I were Apple, I would leverage the power of the App Store and tell these developers that they have two choices: no links to outside payment, or we won't be doing business. Because a judge can't order a company to do business with another company. Would be interesting to see who blinked first in that scenario. My bets would be on the companies wanting on the App Store, not the other way around.
Ermm… I’m signed into streaming apps with multiple non-Apple accounts right now. What do you mean?
Download the McDonald's app, for an example, if you want to see how payments works when Apple doesn't force the app to use Apple's payment system. No problems entering a credit card there. Very few people report security problems with using this sort of in app purchase system. Some apps permit Apple Pay for an even more secure payment method. No 30% tax either.
The distinction is, that those services are not running on the phone and doesn't add to the app.
Exactly -- this practice of Apple's is rent-seeking. To that extent, at least, it is harmful to the market.
App review can test links?
How? A link can end up one place for app review and another for users, one place today and another tomorrow. Retyping links is the way users know they are going somewhere that app review cannot check, automate that and that goes away, it can look like they never left the app.
How? A link can end up one place for app review and another for users, one place today and another tomorrow. Retyping links is the way users know they are going somewhere that app review cannot check, automate that and that goes away, it can look like they never left the app.
It’s worth noting, on the whole, Apple came out on top in the original case. Losing an appeal against the one part they lost wouldn’t change the original result.