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ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

techspot.com

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Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#11

Post by mthoms »

whaaaaaaaaa wrote: post #3

ProtonMail charges a lot for their services and they have no problem with that. I don't see why Apple shouldn't get their cut.

You seem to think Apple's cut is coming out of ProtonMail's profits. It isn't, it's coming out of users pockets (via higher prices). From the article:

>Yen says the company was forced to raise its prices since the 30-percent commission that Apple takes completely ate away ProtonMail's profit margins.

Now multiply the 30% increase times every (paid) app on your phone.

(NB: I'm not against Apple making healthy money from the App store but 30% is just gouging IMHO)

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#13

Post by TonyTrapp »

birdyrooster wrote: post #6

How can one be forced to include in app purchases? This seems worded strangely. Maybe I missed the paragraph explaining how Apple did this.

Quite simple: You are not allowed to push any further updates until you either 1) allow the subscription to be purchased through Apple or 2) make your service completely free so no IAP is required.

Apple has been rejecting app updates for lesser reasons.

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#14

Post by barake »

birdyrooster wrote: post #6

How can one be forced to include in app purchases? This seems worded strangely. Maybe I missed the paragraph explaining how Apple did this.

They tell you to add IAPs that are to their liking, or you're out of the store for violations of the App Store Review Guidelines.

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#15

Post by Pick-A-Hill2019 »

quest88 wrote: post #8

They knew about the cut before writing their iOS app. Edit: I was wrong; misread.

A direct quote from the CEO appears to say otherwise -

"Out of the blue, one day they said you have to add in-app purchase to stay in the App Store. "

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#16

Post by mthoms »

birdyrooster wrote: post #6

How can one be forced to include in app purchases? This seems worded strangely. Maybe I missed the paragraph explaining how Apple did this.

Before: One could subscribe only over the web.

After: You can subscribe in-app (in addition to online) and Apple takes a cut of that purchase. You aren't allowed to mention anywhere in the App that there are alternate (perhaps cheaper) purchase methods.

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#17

Post by whaaaaaaaaa »

hundchenkatze wrote: post #7
whaaaaaaaaa wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. But I feel robbed when I have to pay $8/mo for an extra virtual email box. Sidenote: Apple also doesn't take a cut of any payments that I send with my iPhone.

Then you should feel robbed when $2.40 of that goes to an unrelated company.

It's not like I want to build my own smartphone ecosystem or an encrypted email service.

So I pay and get on with my life. No one forces me to do this.

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#18

Post by simonh »

I have no problem with Apple's basic approach with the App Store, they provide a service and are entitled to charge for it.

I do think they have gone too far with some of their practices though. This sort of shake down of free apps is over-reach and I'm glad they have revised the App Store guidelines. I hope this sort of arm-twisting doesn't happen in future.

It is a tricky issue. As I said it's their product their rules, but those rules do need to be clear, be fair and be impartially applied. I really don't want to see heavy handed regulation in this area, which could be incredibly damaging.

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#19

Post by whaaaaaaaaa »

NikolaeVarius wrote: post #10
whaaaaaaaaa wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No. But I feel robbed when I have to pay $8/mo for an extra virtual email box. Sidenote: Apple also doesn't take a cut of any payments that I send with my iPhone.

Is someone making you use ProtonMail?

Is someone making ProtonMail use AppStore?

Re: ProtonMail CEO calls Apple's forced in-app purchases 'Mafia extortion'

#20

Post by secretsatan »

From the article : Apple responded, saying that free companion apps to paid online services are no longer required to have in-app purchases as of September 11, 2020. As long as paid upgrades are not offered through the app and it has no notifications to customers about an external subscription service, everything is fine.

So....

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