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Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

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Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#11
post #6

Regardless of pricing, this is Windows/Internet explorer vs. Netscape all over. Easy to see Apple introduce features tied to Apple Music that Spotify can't because it doesn't have the same control over iOS

Like what features?

Siri in iOS 10 is a pretty major one.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#12
post #6

Regardless of pricing, this is Windows/Internet explorer vs. Netscape all over. Easy to see Apple introduce features tied to Apple Music that Spotify can't because it doesn't have the same control over iOS

Like what features?

Funny you ask -- because boy do I have an answer.

Last week I officially switched (reluctantly and with a bad taste in my mouth) from Spotify to Apple Music.

Why? Simply because when I'm driving I want to dictate by voice command what song I want to play. I could not do this with Spotify, that's why I switched.

Next time I won't get an iphone because of the bad taste this experience has left me (the worst part is apple's voice transcription technology is so bad compared to Google's... so half the time even that doesn't work)

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#15
post #4
post #2

Who is the bad-guy here? (Both probably, but who is the worse bad-guy?) Obviously Apple's letter makes it seem as though they are being perfectly reasonable, but neither of the articles that I read have provided much analysis.

Neither are being bad, but Spotify is clearly trying to force the issue around the App Store generally. Spotify is clearly at fault here (and the way it's been handled in the media suggests some machination, perhaps), but Apple's revenue model with App Store is just as good or bad as it has always been (or maybe better, now that there's the 85/15 split option).

But remember that the 85/15 split only occurs after a year, so Spotify would still need to charge more. I also don't know if the app store is flexible enough to lower the customer's price after that year cut goes into affect.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#16

How exactly does Apple's payment system work for companies that are cross platform? If I have a Dropcam subscription and am using the ios app, is Dropcam paying Apple 15% of my subscription cost? That seems nuts.

Depends on from where you signed up. If you signed up inside the app, 30%. Outside, 0.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#17

How exactly does Apple's payment system work for companies that are cross platform? If I have a Dropcam subscription and am using the ios app, is Dropcam paying Apple 15% of my subscription cost? That seems nuts.

IIRC any subscriptions and/or purchases driven by apps downloaded from the App Store are subject to a fee paid to Apple. That's according to their (garbage) App Store rules.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#18

How exactly does Apple's payment system work for companies that are cross platform? If I have a Dropcam subscription and am using the ios app, is Dropcam paying Apple 15% of my subscription cost? That seems nuts.

If you subscribe through the iOS app, Apple gets 30% of the subscription. That 30% drops to 15% after a year.

You also can't advertise signing up for the subscription outside of the app.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#19
Apple's App Store has always been an antitrust violation waiting to happen.

and by happen, I mean filed in a court.

There is nothing "applied equally" to other developers. Onlookers will say developers agreed to the contract, so no sympathy, a Federal Judge on the other hand will rip that contract to shreds and take a dim view on Apple's practices.

And no, Google Play's robo rejector isn't exempt.

Re: Apple Fires Back at Spotify for Asking for 'Preferential Treatment'

#20
post #18

How exactly does Apple's payment system work for companies that are cross platform? If I have a Dropcam subscription and am using the ios app, is Dropcam paying Apple 15% of my subscription cost? That seems nuts.

If you subscribe through the iOS app, Apple gets 30% of the subscription. That 30% drops to 15% after a year. You also can't advertise signing up for the subscription outside of the app.

Oh wow, that's harsh. I can't believe you aren't allowed to direct people to the web experience. That must seriously erode margins for hardware folks.
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