It seems like companies like Netflix, for instance, have been doing this for years - you can buy the service via the app store if you want, or you can buy it directly, but you can still use it either way.
Netflix contacts its users about payments via email all the time. What's new?
Previously, there were two kinds of developers: Those prohibited from doing this thing, and those—like Netflix—who were fellow oligopolists with enough leverage that Apple allowed them to do this thing.
Regardless of what we may think of Apple, its stated rules, or its motivations, the outcome was that “The rich got richer and the poor got poorer,” because Apple only applying these rules to smaller companies effectively created a moat to protect the existing incumbents with the leverage to skirt the rules.
Now the playing field is still tilted in Apple’s favour—they own the orchard, after all—but it is no longer tilted in favour of its fellow oligopolists as well.
In all fairness, it's still disproportionately easier for larger companies to develop apps.
Look at Waze, for example. Waze uses OS-level APIs to interact with your hardware and provide a safe driving experience. Larger companies like Facebook and Google have no trouble accessing these APIs: their developer accounts are already entitled with a high number of permissions that a smaller developer would need to apply to use.
"I have a marvellous summary of all the ways a FAANG has systemic advantages over a startup, however the 8GB of RAM on my laptop is not sufficient to document it completely."
The difference is you have to go to the web and sign up for Netflix. That’s how they get your email.
Previously an app wasn’t allowed to ask for your contact information, and then use that to email you about buying things outside the App Store.
If your app just presents a sign in page like Netflix does then they didn’t have that issue.
In theory this would allow someone to register for a free trial etc. in the app with an explicit opt-in to communications, and then the developer is no longer restricted email them about alternate payment methods.
I wonder if external-only payment as part of a "confirm your account" step would be permitted with this change? i.e.
- user downloads Netflix wanting to sign up
- user enters their email address, ticking a box to confirm they consent to being contacted in order to complete their account setup
- the email contains a link to the sign-up form on netflix.com, including the payment form
While it's absolutely absurd to still have to jump through so many hoops, this would be a significant improvement over the current situation which has a "Sign In" button and nothing else.
No, AFAICT that flow wouldn’t be permitted. Only bulk emails to customers that have signed up, making the change pretty useless and the previous rule seem absurd.
I believe both of those comments are referencing the latest App Store guidelines which have not yet been updated with the proposed changes. According to the court filing it seems possible that you would be able to contact users with information used during the signup flow, and doesn't seem to indicate a restriction of targeting individual users:
"Apple has agreed to revise its App Store Guidelines to permit developers of all app categories to communicate with consenting customers outside their app, including via email and other communication services, about purchasing methods other than in-app purchase. See Berman Decl., Ex. A at § 5.1.3. Under the App’s Store existing Guidelines, developers may not use contact information (emails, phone numbers, etc.) obtained within an app to contact their user base outside the app. As a practical matter, this prevents developers from alerting their customers to alternative payment options. The proposed Settlement lifts this restriction, and it does so for all app categories."
It seems like companies like Netflix, for instance, have been doing this for years - you can buy the service via the app store if you want, or you can buy it directly, but you can still use it either way.
Netflix contacts its users about payments via email all the time. What's new?