App-Store Monopoly

This made me think of the other recent case against Apple from Epic, where Apple's response to the court was essentially trolling. The judgement required Apple to allow apps to advertise outside marketplaces where users could purchase in-game items. So apple responded by allowing developers to apply to place exactly one text-only (non-hyperlink), s... See more

Yes, it's been Apple's modus operandi with the App Store from the start: trick consumers into thinking the App Store being a monopoly is the only thing that can protect them against malware, illicit and questionable app content, pirated software, scams, and fraud.

Most consumers understand those concepts and fear those things. Most understand nothin... See more

And if you make a successful alternative App Store, and get, say, 100m people in the EU to install it, you'll owe Apple €50m/year as a "Core Technology Fee". NO GATEKEEPING HERE, EU! None at all! Full compliance, totally. Pinky promise!!

Did... did Apple just introduce the equivalent of Unity's runtime install fee... but for all iOS app developers in the EU?!

The new business terms for iOS apps in the EU have three elements:

Reduced commission — iOS apps on the App Store will pay a reduced commission of either 10 percent (for the vast majority of developers, and subscriptions following their first year) or 17 percent on transactions for digital goods and services.

Payment processing fee — iOS apps on t

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2,000,000 installs acquires a minimum of $45,000 in fees, even if you don't make any money

That's up from $0 USD.

A huge majority of Apple's revenue (from IAP) came from gaming purchases. This would continue to be the case. A gaming app would have ads + options for purchases (none can survive without it) and Apple now earns both on downloads and IAPs. Many games cross the 1M threshold once they are popular enough. Gaming apps have low retention, and a power cu... See more