Nowadays, the big money is on user data. Knowing Tencent, they probably see this as an opportunity to open up iOS so they can have their own app store and get the user data for themselves. Let's be honest here, this is a really calculated move, with the ads and lawsuits ready to go.
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Spotify Sides With Epic Games in Battle Against Apple's App Store Fees
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It literally cost $99.99 a year just to list an app on the store, even if it is a free app.
I guessed as much as that with the way Epic was poking the proverbial hornet's nest, they wanted Fortnite to get banned so they could launch their lawsuit, but it didn't occur to me that there might be a bigger backer behind the scenes pushing for this.
Your analogy is off, developers are not running stores within an oppressive mall, they are supplying products to a store.
In this case, Apple has created a population of consumers who like products, they built a store to sell those products, they run and pay for that store including rent, rates, bills, staff, advertising and all other overheads. Now most stores sell products made by various vendors at a markup.
Epic and other seem to think they should be able to walk into the stores, put their products on the shelves, then loiter outside and shakedown anyone who picks up their product for cash and a subscription.
30% on the real price is roughly what any brick and mortar store would expect to make on the majority of items on its shelves. The problem here is subscriptions. By their nature, they circumvent the retailer making any profit but most retailers didn't create the people buying their wares. Apple created the devices in question, they created their own market and as much as people whinge about monopolistic behaviour, everyone with an Apple device bought it knowing the conditions and there is more than a shred of truth to Apple's arguments about quality and security.
If you let people install ****** software easily, and their device starts running like garbage, the user doesn't blame the developer, they blame the device manufacturer. Same for security issues. Look how often malware has been found in apps on the Google Play Store, let alone all the other junk that Android users like to mess with.
I do sort of get why giving 30% of their subscription revenue Apple irks developers but they can always charge more if its that big a deal. I haven't heard any of them say anything like "10 or 20% would be much fairer", it seems like they want to be able to keep 100% of what they charge which isn't fair at all to the company that built this popular, high quality, secure, profitable market for them in the first place.
Its like the American revolution all over again
You do get other stuff for that $99.
If they aren't careful Trump will step in and ban Fortnite anyway.
Remove the "must cost the same on iOS" rule then, then people have the choice of buying a iOS device and paying $13.33 or android and pay $9.99.
You've gotten the argument completely wrong there.
Instead, consider you opening a retail store selling your goods in a shopping mall.
The shopping mall says "Welcome, here are the rules, if you want to be here you cannot accept cash or Amex and you can only process visa/mastercard through OUR payment system giving us a 30% cut.
Now imagine that that landlord owns every square foot of real estate in the state. If you want to sell those goods, they are the only option.
I was just clarifying because he said it doesn't cost anything. I'm not against the developer fee.
How can Spotify compete with Apple Music with this 30% fee? Should they develop their own phone, OS, and App Store?
Maybe Apple should give Apple Music away for free as well while they are at it.
They're missing a trick here arent they both Epic and Spotify?
Purchase vbucks/subscriptions outside of iOS, direct on their websites. You can't tell me that people who play fortnite or use spotify dont have access to another computer to do this, they can even use safari on the phone.
Still offer in-app purchases, but at either increased rates to include the 30% or different ones not outside the app. That will incentivise the user to buy outside iOS or Android (as they've band it too on Google play).
Purchase vbucks/subscriptions outside of iOS, direct on their websites. You can't tell me that people who play fortnite or use spotify dont have access to another computer to do this, they can even use safari on the phone.
Still offer in-app purchases, but at either increased rates to include the 30% or different ones not outside the app. That will incentivise the user to buy outside iOS or Android (as they've band it too on Google play).
Congratulations, you just found out what a monopoly is, very smart.
I really hope that Spotify doesn't get what they want and Epic gets PERMANENTLY banned
Spotify/Epic didn't become popular because of being on App Store. They are popular because they offer good services across different operating systems (unlike Apple). They could have distributed their apps without App Store (and made more profits) if not for Apple's restrictions. Remind me why they should be grateful to App Store?
Epic tried the same stunt with Android a few years ago when they decided not to release fortnite for the google play store and instead tried to get android users to sideload the app instead. Not only were they encouraging their consumers to essentially compromise the safety and security of their devices by do so, but the take-up rate was reportedly very poor. Epic would ultimately capitulate and release Fortnite for the google play store.
Epic and Spotify (amongst many other companies and developers) all want the best of both worlds. They want the promotional boost that comes from being in Apple's curated App Store - where customers can easily discover, select & pay for stuff and get it delivered immediately in a nice, secure, trusted process, but they don't want to pay for that service that Apple's App Store offers. They also want to take control of the payment process, essentially keeping all the profits for themselves, while capitalising on the benefits of the App Store.
Nobody is asking these companies to show any gratitude (because they are paying Apple for it at the end of the day), but to openly rebel and wage war with the very platform that is responsible for your app even being able to reach millions of users around the world?
Good luck to Epic. They will need every last bit of it for this final, dread battle.
1. I don't think your example showed that App Store has any "promotional boost". In fact, I think most people install an app because their friends recommended it, or they saw them in ads or app reviews elsewhere.
2. Directly install apps from Epic is not more insecure, if for example, Epic pays a third party to review their code (which doesn't have to be Apple) (actually modern operating systems are pretty safe anyway), and you download the app from their official, https-encrypted website. Essentially Apple charges a 30% tax for reviewing their app and doesn't allow there to be any other reviewer, that's just monopoly.
3. Epic/Spotify actually made the software, so I'd rather give my money to them than rent-seeking monopolistic Apple.
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No, you can use Visa. If Apple allowed an alternate method of app distribution on iOS, there would not be any merit to this law suit.
You don’t understand how the law works. This is not about a home. This is about a business.
Well, for Spotify at least, you have the option of subscribing directly via their website, thereby allowing the company to keep 100% of the monthly subscription revenue. You are not forced to subscribe solely via iTunes.
There is a certain irony though. Spotify's business model is basically demanding a 30% of revenue from music companies, while Epic has been bribing developers to release apps for their platform exclusively. It's funny when a would-be monopolist complains about another would-be monopolist.
Spotify does the right thing. And apple should be forced to allow other markets on their devices, and they should have to
unlock their devices for people that would like full access. It should be done the way google is doing it, all data is cleared when you do this. And if apple does not like that, they should of course have the opportunity to not let people use the app-store after such "opening".
unlock their devices for people that would like full access. It should be done the way google is doing it, all data is cleared when you do this. And if apple does not like that, they should of course have the opportunity to not let people use the app-store after such "opening".