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Netflix Is the Latest Company To Try Bypassing Apple's App Store (marketwatch.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the power-play dept.

Netflix is testing a way for users to register and pay for the streaming service while bypassing Apple's app store and hefty commission fees. MarketWatch reports: Netflix is looking into a new sign-up approach where users in some countries are no longer able to register for streaming service. They are being redirected to the mobile web version of the app and asked to enter payment details with Netflix directly. The test is running in 33 countries, not including the U.S., through the month of September, according to TechCrunch. This comes just months after Netflix in May made billing through Google Pay unavailable to new customers, though current subscribers that pay via Google Play can continue to do so until they cancel their accounts.

3 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. Apple's business practices are shady at best by chrisvdb · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have a startup which builds a web-based enterprise product. A year ago we launched a companion app that provides a fraction of the functionality of the desktop application, just enough to help our customers extract the key information they need when they're on the road.

    All of a sudden a few days Apple decides we have to implement in-app payments. I explained them that this is an enterprise product for an arcane industry and that our customers require quotations/invoices raised to their procurement department and would not pay several hundred to several thousand dollars through the app. They insist we have to implement in-app payments despite not helping our customers nor our business. We don't have automated billing at all, not even on our desktop product. The requested change means months of development for no value (at this point).

    No way to appeal. We can currently not update our app and if we don't implement in-app payments in an unspecified time our current version will be pulled too.

    Thanks, Apple.

    1. Re:Apple's business practices are shady at best by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Interesting

      No way to appeal.

      Appealing is futile. Instead, just make a small innocuous change, recompile, and resubmit the app. The chance of getting the same reviewer is small.

  2. Re:App store surcharge? by gnasher719 · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I develop an app that is free, but requires companies to pay for an expensive license. It's easy. The app is free. The customer buys a license for 100 users which allows them to print 100 invitation codes. To use the app, the user downloads the free app and enters the invitation code. For reviews, we give Apple two invitation codes (because the app is not very useful for a single user).

    The important thing where the OP probably failed is that the app never asks for money, and never links you to any website where you could pay.