In a major change for iOS app developers and consumers, Amazon’s Kindle app for iPhone and iPad has added a ‘Get’ button that links directly to its external storefront, enabling users to buy eBooks outside of Apple’s payment system. This update follows a recent legal ruling barring Apple from enforcing a 27% commission on purchases made through external links within iOS apps.
This change marks the latest development in the broader antitrust scrutiny Apple has faced over its App Store policies. For years, Apple required that digital content purchased through iOS apps must use its in-app payment system, from which it took a 15-30% commission. In an attempt to comply with regulatory pressure while still capitalizing on external purchases, Apple introduced a 27% fee for developers directing users to alternative payment methods—a move that many criticized as an attempt to preserve its dominance over in-app transactions.
However, a recent ruling has undermined this workaround. A federal judge ruled that Apple cannot enforce the 27% commission on external purchases made via links from within an app. As a direct result, Amazon has now enabled external purchasing within its Kindle app, a feature that had been disabled for more than a decade due to Apple’s previously restrictive policies.
Consumer advocates and developers have long argued that Apple’s commission structure stifles competition and inflates prices. The Kindle app’s updated functionality offers a glimpse into a future App Store ecosystem that is more open and flexible. With this move, Kindle users can now access and purchase eBooks directly through Amazon’s website via a link in the app, increasing convenience and potentially reducing costs by sidestepping Apple’s commission.
This ruling is just one of several legal challenges Apple is facing globally, as regulators in the U.S., Europe, and Asia continue to examine the company’s control over app distribution and monetization. Apple has not formally commented on the ruling or the changes to the Kindle app but is expected to appeal the decision.
For consumers and developers alike, this marks a significant shift in how digital products are marketed and sold on Apple’s platform. Whether other major developers will follow Amazon’s lead remains to be seen, but the door has now been opened for significant change in the relationship between app creators and Apple’s App Store.
Source: https:// – Courtesy of the original publisher.
