$Apple(AAPL.US)$ will ease payment rules for certain apps like Netflix and Spotify, in a concession that will allow some media platforms to bypass fees the tech giant collects on in-app purchases.
The move was prompted by a ruling from Japan's Fair Trade Commission but will apply globally, the company said in a press release late Wednesday. Starting in early 2022, some media apps will be able to share a single link to their website to allow users to set up and manage their account.
The iPhone maker has come under intense scrutiny from regulators and app developers globally for the dominance it asserts over in-app purchases as well as App Store sales. Apple requires developers sell their digital goods and services using the company's in-app payment system, which collects a commission of up to 30%.
The changes will affect "reader" apps, which are platforms that allow users to consume previously-purchased entertainment content or subscriptions like music, video, audio, and news. It is a category of app that covers the likes of Netflix, Kindle, and Spotify -- the latter of which has been a longtime critic of Apple's gatekeeping role over the App Store while its Apple Music remains a key Spotify rival.
Platforms like Netflix and Spotify already allow users to manage their accounts and make payments via the internet, bypassing Apple's payments system. But consumers aren't told of this option through the apps, and accessing the internet to do this hasn't been possible through their apps. That will change when the move comes into effect.
We have great respect for the Japan Fair Trade Commission and appreciate the work we've done together, which will help developers of reader apps make it easier for users to set up and manage their apps and services, while protecting their privacy and maintaining their trust"
-said Phil Schiller, an Apple executive who oversees the App Store.
While Apple's dominance over app payments has borne much of the brunt from regulators, the size of its commission is unlikely to be critical to the company's success. Apple generated commissions of $21.7 billion from the App Store in 2020, or about 8% of its annual revenue, according to app tracker Sensor Tower. So even if Apple was forced to cut its commission in half, the damage would be less than 5% of its total revenue.
Apple's decision comes hot on the tail of a law passed in South Korea this week that will require the company as well as rival Google, owned by $Alphabet -CL A(GOOGL.US)$, to allow alternative payment systems on their app stores.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 02, 2021 08:09 ET (12:09 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
$Apple(AAPL.US)$ will ease payment rules for certain apps like Netflix and Spotify, in a concession that will allow some media platforms to bypass fees the tech giant collects on in-app purchases.
$苹果(AAPL.US)$将放宽Netflix和Spotify等某些应用的支付规则，这一让步将允许一些媒体平台绕过这家科技巨头收取的应用内购买费用。
The move was prompted by a ruling from Japan's Fair Trade Commission but will apply globally, the company said in a press release late Wednesday. Starting in early 2022, some media apps will be able to share a single link to their website to allow users to set up and manage their account.
该公司周三晚间在一份新闻稿中表示，这一举措是由日本公平交易委员会(Fair Trade Commission)的一项裁决推动的，但将适用于全球。从2022年初开始，一些媒体应用程序将能够共享指向其网站的单一链接，以允许用户设置和管理他们的账户。
The iPhone maker has come under intense scrutiny from regulators and app developers globally for the dominance it asserts over in-app purchases as well as App Store sales. Apple requires developers sell their digital goods and services using the company's in-app payment system, which collects a commission of up to 30%.
这家iPhone制造商受到全球监管机构和应用开发商的严格审查，因为它在应用内购买和App Store销售方面占据主导地位。苹果要求开发商使用该公司的应用内支付系统销售他们的数字产品和服务，该系统收取高达30%的佣金。
The changes will affect "reader" apps, which are platforms that allow users to consume previously-purchased entertainment content or subscriptions like music, video, audio, and news. It is a category of app that covers the likes of Netflix, Kindle, and Spotify -- the latter of which has been a longtime critic of Apple's gatekeeping role over the App Store while its Apple Music remains a key Spotify rival.
这些变化将影响“阅读器”应用程序，这些应用程序是允许用户使用之前购买的娱乐内容或订阅(如音乐、视频、音频和新闻)的平台。这是一个涵盖Netflix、Kindle和Spotify等应用程序的类别--后者长期以来一直批评苹果在App Store上的把关角色，而其Apple Music仍然是Spotify的主要竞争对手。
Platforms like Netflix and Spotify already allow users to manage their accounts and make payments via the internet, bypassing Apple's payments system. But consumers aren't told of this option through the apps, and accessing the internet to do this hasn't been possible through their apps. That will change when the move comes into effect.
像Netflix和Spotify这样的平台已经允许用户绕过苹果的支付系统，通过互联网管理他们的账户并进行支付。但消费者不会通过应用程序被告知这一选项，而且通过他们的应用程序访问互联网也不可能做到这一点。当这一举措生效时，这种情况将会改变。
We have great respect for the Japan Fair Trade Commission and appreciate the work we've done together, which will help developers of reader apps make it easier for users to set up and manage their apps and services, while protecting their privacy and maintaining their trust"
-said Phil Schiller, an Apple executive who oversees the App Store.
我们非常尊重日本公平贸易委员会(Japan Fair Trade Commission)，并感谢我们共同所做的工作，这将帮助阅读器应用程序的开发商让用户更容易地设置和管理他们的应用程序和服务，同时保护他们的隐私并维持他们的信任。“
-负责App Store的苹果高管菲尔·席勒(Phil Schiller)说。
While Apple's dominance over app payments has borne much of the brunt from regulators, the size of its commission is unlikely to be critical to the company's success. Apple generated commissions of $21.7 billion from the App Store in 2020, or about 8% of its annual revenue, according to app tracker Sensor Tower. So even if Apple was forced to cut its commission in half, the damage would be less than 5% of its total revenue.
尽管苹果在应用支付领域的主导地位首当其冲地受到了监管机构的冲击，但其佣金的规模不太可能对该公司的成功起到关键作用。根据应用程序追踪公司Sensor Tower的数据，苹果在2020年从App Store获得了217亿美元的佣金，约占其年收入的8%。因此，即使苹果被迫将佣金削减一半，损失也不到其总收入的5%。
Apple's decision comes hot on the tail of a law passed in South Korea this week that will require the company as well as rival Google, owned by $Alphabet -CL A(GOOGL.US)$, to allow alternative payment systems on their app stores.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
September 02, 2021 08:09 ET (12:09 GMT)
2021年09月02日08：09美国东部时间(格林尼治标准时间12：09)
Copyright (c) 2021 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
