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Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

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Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#2
While the OP comes across as a tad hyperbolic, this is what I've thought for a long time: if a business is dependent on the good graces of the provider of a platform it's built on, it simply does not have a working model. It happened before with Facebook credits, and Apple making a similar move is no surprise to me.

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#3
I've read Apple's release a couple of times.

I think someone should directly ask them what their policy is on SaaS subscriptions, because you could easily make a case either way from the press release.

But I agree with the article, if Apple's intent is to get into the SaaS revenue stream, it's a major issue. I have clients who have been considering moving to platforms that include mobile apps on iOS devices, and that 30% Apple iTunes cut will get passed right on to them. Not to mention the hassle of having to create and manage purchases for individual iTunes accounts for each device.

HP has a great opportunity here to loudly announce that they are going to be SaaS friendly, and I think this could be the turning point on iOS's market share.

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#4
Apple is notorious for ripping businesses built on their platforms out from under the people that created them. It has happened with OS X by them taking a popular 3rd party utility/app and integrating the idea/look/feel directly with no attribution. It has happened with iOS, and now it is just coming to a point where Apple is flat out saying that if you make money on our platform, regardless if the value is outside of iOS, we want a cut if you want to be on it at all.

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#5
post #2

While the OP comes across as a tad hyperbolic, this is what I've thought for a long time: if a business is dependent on the good graces of the provider of a platform it's built on, it simply does not have a working model. It happened before with Facebook credits, and Apple making a similar move is no surprise to me.

Exactly. But how can one oppose new methods of the closed, proprietary system that generates revenue, when the open alternative doesn't?

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#6
The press release begins by referring to "publishers of content-based apps", and uses "publishers" throughout. I think it is pretty clear that they are not talking about SaaS.

The article also fails to understand that it is not taking cut of revenue from existing subscribers: only those that sign up through an iOS application.

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#7
post #4

Apple is notorious for ripping businesses built on their platforms out from under the people that created them. It has happened with OS X by them taking a popular 3rd party utility/app and integrating the idea/look/feel directly with no attribution. It has happened with iOS, and now it is just coming to a point where Apple is flat out saying that if you make money on our platform, regardless if the value is outside o…

It has happened with OS X by them taking a popular 3rd party utility/app and integrating the idea/look/feel directly with no attribution

Citation?

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#8
post #7
post #4

Apple is notorious for ripping businesses built on their platforms out from under the people that created them. It has happened with OS X by them taking a popular 3rd party utility/app and integrating the idea/look/feel directly with no attribution. It has happened with iOS, and now it is just coming to a point where Apple is flat out saying that if you make money on our platform, regardless if the value is outside o…

It has happened with OS X by them taking a popular 3rd party utility/app and integrating the idea/look/feel directly with no attribution Citation?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karelia_Watson

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#9

The press release begins by referring to "publishers of content-based apps", and uses "publishers" throughout. I think it is pretty clear that they are not talking about SaaS. The article also fails to understand that it is not taking cut of revenue from existing subscribers: only those that sign up through an iOS application.

I'm inclined to believe you as it regards Apple's policies as of today. As regards the future policies about non-content SaaS apps, suffice it to say that there is non-zero informational value in this announcement.

Re: Apple is actually asking for 100% of SaaS mobile revenue

#10
It seems OP hasn't quite thought this through...

Apple does not demand 30% of out-of-app sales, just that out-of-app sales are not cheaper than in-app sales.

And as far as I read the release, SaaS is not concerned. Unless you're using Apples subscription mechanism, you're not offering a subscription in-app. So if you simply use a web API, that's not a subscription.

Can Apple change that at any time? Yes. Closed platforms take power from developers and give it to the platform vendor - in exchange for (often) a bigger pie to get your slice from.

Is the OP yet another pageview troll? Yes. Posting blatantly false information in the headline seems to indicate that.

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