Apple allows apps like Netflix, Spotify, and Kindle to connect to the web to sign up

While voice app developers accused Apple last week of turning a legal settlement into a change in the App Store that was hardly a change, the company appears to be making a real, albeit small, concession. today: Apple says it will let developers of “reader” apps (think Netflix, Spotify, and Amazon’s Kindle app) link their customers directly to their own registration website, where they could potentially bypass Apple’s integrated payment system entirely (and its 30% discount), in cases where they haven’t already.

In a press release, Apple says the move will close an investigation by the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) and will only apply to this type of “reader” apps for now – a category originally designed by Apple. to appease companies like Netflix and Hulu by letting them let users simply sign in to their existing accounts instead of taking out a new subscription through the App Store (and having to pay Apple’s fees).

The JFTC confirmed the deal in a press release, saying Apple’s move “would eliminate the alleged violation of antimonopoly law.” The commission, which has been investigating Apple since 2016, said the company is committed to reporting on the state of app review transparency once a year for the next three years. Apple has offered to change its app review guidelines in response to the investigation, according to the JFTC.

Currently, Netflix and Spotify apps on iOS are useless if you don’t have a subscription yet: both only offer a login page, no link to their website, and cheeky apologies. “You can’t sign up for Netflix in the app. We know this is a problem, ”reads the homepage of the Netflix app. The Amazon Kindle app, on the other hand, offers a basic “Create a New Amazon Account” page within the app itself, but doesn’t let you buy books there, or even the standard Amazon app. You must access a mobile browser to purchase.

The rule change is extremely limited in scope, as Apple claims it has only agreed to let developers of so-called reader apps “share a single link to their website to help users set up and manage their accounts.” Apple also says it will “help developers of reading apps protect users when they link them to an external website to make purchases,” suggesting that it will have specific guidelines on how these links appear. It is not clear if the developers will be able to quote the prices.

It’s also worth noting that when Apple rejected the Hey messaging app, and even after changing that controversial decision, the company was very clear that messaging apps don’t count as “reader apps”. Even if you subscribe the same way outside of the app and the only thing you can do without an account is to log in. Apple is the one who decides which apps are considered reading apps to begin with.

It also appears Apple is slightly redefining what a “reader” app means: while the company’s app review guidelines suggest that a reader app “could” allow users to access previously content. purchased (presumably alongside in-app purchases, like Netflix proposed for years), Apple’s new press release states that “developers of playback applications do not offer in-app digital goods and services for purchase“ (ours in bold).

This would mean that Apple only offers this exception to companies that do not pay any purchase commission through the app to Apple anyway. Which, admittedly, include some of Apple’s harshest critics like Spotify.

Some critics of Apple’s anti-leadership rules have suggested that they could charge users less if they could direct them to their own website instead of Apple’s IPA because they wouldn’t have to pay. to Apple this additional 30% and could thus pass on the savings. But if Apple’s “reader” category doesn’t include apps that offer IAP, that idea probably won’t be possible with Apple’s new rule.

It may take some time to find the answers to these questions: Apple says the rule won’t come into effect until early 2022.