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Netflix Tests Disabling In-App Subscriptions on iOS in Some Countries
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You are looking at it as a current customer. To you, Netflix holds a high enough value that you’d go through the hassle. But for a new customer, who’s interested in testing the service, it is not customer friendly to force them to jump through hoops to get it running, and may be reason enough for them to look at something else.
I mean, there’s a reason Netflix added this option from the beginning. That’s reality.
google and apple take 30% cut for in app purchases. In real life world, more 30% on some crazy shareholder,30% on cost and left 10% on staff salary.
Netflix WAS popular. Now there are many alternatives. Now Netflix has very few successful TV shows and movies. Marvel and Disney are already moving away. Netflix is in pressure and thus the move. In coming years whatever Netflix spends, the users will leave.
I’ve always paid outside of the app on the website. I don’t even think you could pay via the app when I first signed up for Netflix.
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You used to be able to buy directly from the app but amazon stoped beside they didn’t want to let Apple have their 30% cut.
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I’ve been subscribing to Netflix since in launched in the UK 6.5 years ago and I’ve always paid via the website.
Rubbish. Apple is getting free money from netflix for little to no benefit. To suggest that you are going to give up netflix because you have pay netflix direct is bordering on ridiculous.
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No, Netflix is worried about Apple fleecing them for providing no service. Netflix is not going to flame out. The model they have serves them well.
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I subscribe my life to Apple because I don't want anyone to get all my details. Besides, who said Netflix is selling your details?
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No, Netflix is making you pay them direct because of Apples greed
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Neflix haven't done anything wrong.
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You have it all wrong. Netflix isn't getting its business because of the App Store.
Netflix is a global power house who has Apps on multiple platforms from games consoles, tables, tvs, set top boxes, and so on. Customers would expect to be able to watch netflix anywhere. Apple provides a platform that allows companies to provide free apps, which netflix does. Why should Apple, XBox or anyone else get a slice of Netflix's pie for providing a viewer on every platform?
It is fair enough if Apple was providing a service to small outfits that cannot afford their own subscription providing service for Apple to take a cut, but not for large companies that have their own payment systems.
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More like a bad PR for Apple being greedy.
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Not sure why, I can pay in Woolies, Coles, Target, Kmart and tons of places with Apple pay. Never been in a shop yet that doesn't support Apple Pay. All shops that accept chip and pin are likely to support Apple Pay.
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Well yes we do
I am not sure why your even knocking MS who make IOS devices far more productive for millions by offering MS Office for free
You seriously think MS should be charged for making IOS devices better with probably the best productivity suite for many, which has mutual benefits for Apple and MS and more importantly IOS users
You speak as though Microsoft is doing this out of the kindness of their heart.
Microsoft didn’t initially offer office for iOS. It was only after it was clear that windows phone was going nowhere that they finally capitulated. But by then, we users have had years to get used to a mobile environment without office and find alternatives to it.
That’s the wonder of the App Store. It doesn’t matter whether you are a tiny app developer or a juggernaut like Microsoft. You want access to Apple’s customers, you will all play by the same rules.
Netflix is not free. You have to pay for it's service.
This to me is more similar to a seller doing business on eBay and choosing the payment method outside of eBay/Paypal to avoid the fees.
It would be time for me to cancel Netflix after years and years of interrupted service. Got Amazon Prime and it would do just fine.
Okay, so it's okay that this highwayman Apple gets money for literally NOTHING, but if a company tries to protect itself from paying tribute for NOTHING in return, that company now is greedy?
Couldn't you find an argument that makes even less sense?
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Yeah, unless you're Apple, then you don't have to obey to your own rules -- which, by the way, none of their own apps do. They reserve a lot of privileges to themselves, which is a business practice Microsoft was heavily sued over back in the day.
Also, this whole perspective is wrong on a lot of levels. So Microsoft wants access to Apple's customers by offering Office for iOS? Or is there maybe a chance that a lot of poor souls trapped in the Walled Garden that iOS is asked for access to the most popular office suite on the market? Isn't there a chance that maybe Apple also needed to access all those Microsoft customers to sell more of their extremely restricted devices?
The reality is that Apple benefits MUCH more from third party developers than those third party developers benefit from Apple and its robber-baron business model.
And yes, it IS a robber-baron business model. It weren't if there were alternatives to the App Store available on iOS gadgets. But there are none. Apple has artificially closed down that platform and rips everybody off who is writing software for it. It's amazing that they are still getting away with it.
I wonder if people will also be enthusiastic about this business model when they buy an Apple Car in the future only to find out that the only place where they can charge or fuel that car is the super expensive Apple Store in the next big city. They can easily design the car that way - and probably get away with it because most Apple customers are already well conditioned to paying that Apple tax without questioning it.
I believe I did note it was mutually beneficial and I do not see any real major association with MS Phone or capitulation especially as its free
At the end of the day they did provide cross platform access which is far better than Apple meager offerings.
IOS needs Office far more than anyone in trying to convince more that it can replace a laptop
I was surprised Netflix went down the iTunes route at all. Why give away so much revenue to Apple for next to nothing?
Not that it matters. Netflix has won. They essentially are TV now, and they're a service to which pretty much everyone will continue to subscribe to. Plus, more money going to Netflix means they can make more stuff. It's a win for everyone, except Apple. (who let's face it, don't need the money)
Not that it matters. Netflix has won. They essentially are TV now, and they're a service to which pretty much everyone will continue to subscribe to. Plus, more money going to Netflix means they can make more stuff. It's a win for everyone, except Apple. (who let's face it, don't need the money)
I don't see anyone saying that Microsoft (or Apple) is doing this out of the kindness of their hearts. They are both business and will do what ever it takes to make the most money.
But, people seem to think that these relationships are a one-way street, Apple is "graciously" allowing these developers to publish Apps, but it is not a one-way street, it is a symbiotic relationship. Without these Apps, the Apple brand would not be that valuable. (How many people would use an iPads that has stock Apps + iWorks? Very few.)
I think it is funny how people can proclaim that Netflix is making a bad business decision as if they Netflix is just randomly making decisions. Netflix most defiantly knows how many of their users are paying directly versus paying through another service (Apple, carrier-pay, etc.) Second, many of the countries listed are known to have smaller iOS penetration than the US. Netflix can use this as a trial and see how many users they actual lose. If they lose approximately 15% of their AppStore paid users, they actually break even from a monetary standpoint.
If Microsoft had released Office for iOS in 2010, when the iPad was first announced, that may well have been the case. Instead, Microsoft (under Steve Ballmer) opted to limit Office to their own windows phone platform in an attempt to give it a leg up over iOS and Android.
It was only when Satya took over as CEO that he changed Microsoft's business strategy to play well on all platforms, but that was really more an act of desperation, since they had all but lost the mobile wars by then.
As it stands, users have had many years to adapt to the absence of office on iOS, and adapt we have.
Today, while I have the various office apps installed on my iPhone and iPad, they are there more as glorified document viewers (like when I receive a ppt presentation via email that I want to show to my class). When it comes to content creation, I find myself defaulting towards the iWork apps (which I find a delight to use), as well as third party apps such as Bear or Drafts, which handle word processing so much better.
In the very least, Office is going to have to support iCloud sync before I even consider using it for document creation on my iOS devices.
It's the whole google maps debacle all over again. Google tried to use Maps as leverage against Apple, leading to Apple excising google maps from their iOS platform in favour of their own home-brew maps solution and today, Apple Maps is used more often by virtue of being the default pre-installed app despite being technically inferior to google maps.
It will be interesting to see Netflix try. Will Netflix succeed, paving the way for other subscription-based services such as Spotify to do the same, or will Apple move to make an example of Netflix (the classic "punish one to warn a hundred" parable).
Apple would sooner die than see itself beholden to a third party app or service.
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The way I see things, it has always been one constant power struggle. Apple calls the shots because they literally hold the keys to the kingdom, and third party developers capitulate for now because they have no other alternative (70% margin is better than 0% after all), but I imagine they are constantly looking for ways to circumvent the App Store rules because all other things equal, who wouldn't want to earn more money?
Thing is, just as it is Netflix's prerogative to fight for a larger cut of their subscription dollar, so too is it in Apple's interests to see that this does not happen. It's like two businessmen trying to negotiate for the best deal for each of them. Neither party is right or wrong. It's just business, and who gets the better end of the deal ultimately depends on who has more leverage, better bargaining skills etc.
For you to believe that is one thing... for Apple to believe it is ridiculous and will ultimately bite them in the butt. As I said, the market has a way to work out the value chain. Apple's contribution to that chain is nearly zip, and yet they are taking away probably the largest share of profit. If this is Apple's strategy for increasing their "services", it will catch up with them. Netflix will figure this out... not lose any significant number of customers... and others will follow their lead. Apple will retreat into the proprietary view of creating their own content. Thankfully for me, I have yet to see any content Apple is planning to create that I'd have even a minimal interest in watching.
It's good to be king.
Fortunately, Apple has a very small market share in the industry, so while Apple undeniably has a monopoly over the iOS App Store, it's still not considered a monopoly in the larger scheme of things (for now at least).
Ipad and iPhone sales did just fine without access to office apps. Office is handy to have around, but it's hardly the be-all and end-all of what constitutes ipad productivity.
Yes, Apple does.
The crux of the matter is that with so many developers each clamouring to get their own apps into the iOS App Store, they have effectively commoditised themselves. As it stands, with perhaps the exception of a few more notable offerings, if an app were to disappear from the App Store tomorrow, I would probably be able to find a similar alternative readily enough.
Nobody is point a gun at these developers and forcing them to write apps for Apple.
They do so for one simple reason - Apple has aggregated the best customers who have proven that they are willing to spend, to the point where the iOS App Store is far more profitable than the Google Play Store despite its smaller user base. By all means - try to pull a Fortnite; see how many users that gets you on Android.
And I am not complaining, as the App Store has benefited me as a consumer. Because all apps have to be sold through the App Store, this greatly cuts down on software piracy (just take a look at Android and how people are willing to go the distance to pirate even $1 apps, which in turn has decimated the market for quality paid apps). I also have a centralised place to manage and update my apps, and I know that Apple will curate and update it properly.
I mean, if you are not happy with the terms of the App Store, you are welcome to not release any apps for it. Maybe if enough developers were to stage a boycott, Apple might sit up and take notice, but as it stands, there are still more than enough developers to take the place of any who do leave.
For what it's worth, I don't see Apple selling a car. I predict that their business model will be autonomous self-driving (something like Uber), so consumers won't have to concern themselves with owning or maintaining Apple Cars.
That said, you would have known fully what you were getting yourself into before buying an Apple Car, and weighed the pros against the cons. So I don't see what the issue is here.
Right, Thats the most logical way to react. Thanks for the suggestion. May all apps excuse themselves from the AppStore. This will be perfect.Your move, Apple. Take Netflix down from their App Store maybe?
Netflix will probably never make a profit, or they might if, like Amazon, they can hold on for 20 years. Yes, you can make a huge library of own shows and movies, but that's a lot of money out of your pocket. Previous revenue models in the entertainment industry was more profitable. You make a TV show, make money on first run through TV commercials (yes, not so good for consumers), then sell the show to a whole bunch of worldwide TV stations, and also cash in on reruns. Longterm revenue for everyone, even the writers of a show who get residuals for many many years (an incentive to create great stuff). Now Netflix has to pay a whole lot up front, and can't sell shows outside Netflix (DVD, Blu-ray, TV stations) for extra revenue. Writers and actors also don't get residuals anymore on a per episode broadcast basis. (And Netflix keeps viewing numbers a secret, so who knows how popular a show is anymore. Star Trek Discovery, for example, could be a dud, but who would know?) There's no money in it for anyone in the industry with a service like Netflix. It can't sustain itself for long, like broadcast TV could for so long a time.
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digital item need to paid 30% .. actual item no need to paid. 30% quite big margin.. With all apple crazy requirement and restriction , developer only like because apple user "PAID" compare to android user.
Whats difference between digital item vs actual item in respect to the AppStore?
Actual item you no need to use apple in app you can use alternative method like stripe,paypal. 4% fee .
E.g item actual like you want to sell your "macbook pro" .
E.g virtual/digital item : V point something in fortnite. movie in netflix for rent.
** i'm not sure in app purchase via telco they take how much .
You get something for free and all you do is moan that you did not get it earlier
sounds like sour grapes to me LOLI understand that Office for IOS has supported Icloud since May 2015 but it may be limited in some ways ie copying so its a bit clunky
If your productive elsewise that's good for you but millions of others see and get the benefit in free MS Office on their mobile devices and are able to extend their desktop/laptop experience both personally and professionally
I'm not sure Netflix, which is the #1 streaming service by an immense margin, will lose "lots of people" because they can no longer save $2.
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Sounds like you're trying to justify your bias. There couldn't be a more false statement about Netflix's shows.
I don't get the whole "Harder for their customers" comment. It's a ONE TIME subscription on Netfiix's WEBSITE. After that, you can use the app at will. I have been doing it since the app became available on the iPhone. However, I used Netflix way before that, on my smart TV, on my Xbox, etc.
If you had a choice between a market place that charges you 30% or a market place that charges you 10%, which one would you choose? Oh, wait, you don't have a choice. But if you did, you would pick the 10% market place. Netflix is just doing what Amazon, B&N, HBO, etc are doing, just making you subscribe once on their site and not allow you to subscribe in the APP. It's really not a big deal.
Let's see, the app is only 56MB. Boy, that's a lot of space being used! Ok, I get it shows up in the App store and people rate the app, but really, how much does that take up, not as much as you might think. Also, apple rakes in $99 a year for a developer fee and to me, that should be enough. What other infrastructure is Netflix actually using once the app is on someone's phone. NONE...ZIP...ZERO. The bandwidth to use the app is on the user.
Please, stop making a mountain out of a mole hill. It's a one time subscription on their website. You don't have to visit it ever again until you have to update your CC. Big deal. Please stop making out that Netflix is doing it subscribers bad, it's isn't.
Ok, so, instead of signing up in the app, you open up the browser on your same phone and sign up at their site. One and Done. Then open the app any time you want to watch a movie. again "Mountain out of a mole hill"
APPLE and EBAY are not even remotely the same. But let's play your game. In order to build an app and have it published with Apple, you have to pay a $99 developer fee, every year. So, if you offer a free app, apple still makes money. But if you offer a free app that has subscriptions in it, Apple makes an additional 30% for the first year and then 15% for each year after that of what you charge for a subscription. Ebay, you can advertise (first 50) freely, you only pay a 10% fee (max of $750). Some items have a less percentage fee. So, thanks for comparing APPLE to EBAY, as you can see APPLE is charging up to 3 times as much as EBAY.
You go ahead on leave Netflix. Just remember the next time you want to use your smart tv or xbox, ps3, etc to use the app to watch a movie, oh, wait, you left, because you were too silly to sign up on Netflix's website once.
Not sure why you getting upset. I use whatever I want and whenever I want. I have other ways to watch/stream which I am already doing so netflix means no much to me nowadays. They will head same path as Spotify for me.