[dustyharddrive]

This is the worst tech news headline I’ve ever seen. The change the article is referring to is allowing developers to refer to non-IAP payments in communication with users outside the app (the fact that this was disallowed before blows my mind). This does absolutely nothing to change the in-app anti-steering rules Apple has.

(edit: for clarity)

[dustyharddrive]

I think I should clarify what changed in the rules. Apple attempted to stop any mass communication to your users from mentioning another way to pay. If they signed up in the app Apple still wanted to lock them in as an IAP customer.

Now you can send bulk emails to consenting account holders and mention non-IAP payment methods without running afoul of the rules.

Here's the old App Review Guideline clause (https://web.archive.org/web/20210401043354/https://developer...):

> 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, either within the app or through communications sent to points of contact obtained from account registration within the app (like email or text), encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase.

That's been changed to:

> 3.1.3 Other Purchase Methods: The following apps may use purchase methods other than in-app purchase. Apps in this section cannot, within the app, encourage users to use a purchasing method other than in-app purchase. Developers cannot use information obtained within the app to target individual users outside of the app to use purchasing methods other than in-app purchase (such as sending an individual user an email about other purchasing methods after that individual signs up for an account within the app). Developers can send communications outside of the app to their user base about purchasing methods other than in-app purchase.

Then the AFAIK unchanged exceptions follow: "reader" (any content store), multiplatform services (yes the guidelines are made so strict allowing the use of previously purchased accounts had to be an exception, "provided those items are also available as in-app purchases within the app"), P2P, "goods and services outside the app", etc.

edit: line breaks :)

[SilverRed]

This is still a huge step even if not enough. It means that apps like spotify and netflix no longer have to have a screen saying "You can not continue via the app" and nothing more which is terrible UX.

"Head to spotify.com to set up a subscription" is much better UI.

[dustyharddrive]

They still can't link to third-party payments. The only change is that after users have opted-in to [X company]'s marketing email, the company is allowed to talk about their own payment system to their own mailing list. You know, after the customer has likely already set up an IAP subscription where Apple takes 30%.

[saurik]

It is not clear that that would be considered communication "outside" the application, due to the link from "inside".

[p49k]

This is still disallowed if I’m not mistaken.

[Grustaf]

But I don’t get it, it has never been forbidden, isn’t that exactly how netflix and all other subscription business do it? Clearly they have communicated about the payment outside the app?

[simion314]

Apps were rejected if they had a link that would open a page that would give you the information that you have an option to get a cheaper price if you pay outside Apple. You can find on other comments (maybe on the other thread) the exact rule from Apple.

[Grustaf]

Yes of course, but that is surely still forbidden. The change is about communication outside the app.

[SilverRed]

Netflix and spotify dump you on a page which says "You can not continue via the app". They have not been allowed to tell you how you can continue to set up a payment, only that it can not be via the app. Now they can say go to this url to set it up.

[Grustaf]

I’m pretty sure they still can’t, since that happens in the app. The rule mentions communication outside the app.

[saurik]

And AFAIK even to this lame extent is only a narrow exemption for applications that sell access to content like article, movies, music, and books.

[dustyharddrive]

They cannot send you to a URL and still can't mention non-IAP payments from the app. Only in a bulk email to users. Emailing your own users and providing them a way to pay for your cross-platform service was disallowed before.

[taurath]

And it’s only because they’re so big that Apple hasn’t kicked them off the App Store.

[Grustaf]

Not really, apps that distribute content like that have are allowed to take payment outside the app, I’m pretty sure it applies to anyone. No doubt the exception was introduced because of Amazon and Netflix, but i think it applies to anyone.