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Audible removing in-app purchases according to Apple's rules

by Mike Schramm Oct 10th 2011 at 6:30PM

We've seen quite a bit of squabbling over the subscription and in-app purchase for content rules on the App Store in the past, but generally, things have tended to go Apple's way. Most companies, especially those who really depend on the iOS audience for buying their content, are eventually willing to put up with Apple's 30% cut of any content prices sold through an App Store app. But that's not the case with Audible, sellers of fine audiobooks for your iPhone and iPod touch -- the company has pulled the option to buy content directly through the app in the iOS version's latest update.

iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users can still shop through the mobile store via Safari -- there's even a link inside the app that will open up the online store in your device's browser. So essentially, Audible's just working around Apple's restrictions here.

Which make Apple's restrictions look a little silly, but the goal of course is to get that cut off of all content bought in the App Store. It's a shame Audible's customers have to deal with that extra inconvenience, though.



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We've seen quite a bit of squabbling over the subscription and in-app purchase for content rules on the App Store in the past, but...
 

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I don't think any of you have used the Audbile App. The app is really only for those with Audbile accounts. Audible is the largest seller of audio books on itunes that is true but if you have an account with Audible you don't get the discount from iTunes nor can you use your monthly credits.

But this doens't make sense, it sounds like the writer doesn't even use or has never used the app. You never could in app purchase from audible. The Shop button on the app opened safari to thier estore. You buy the audio book from audible's store, through the browser, and then you go back to the app, refresh your library and it is ready to download to the app.

I don't see what the difference is other then I don't have an in app link to the web browser.

October 11 2011 at 9:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shannon Doherty

Didn't Apple used to have a rule that said an app couldn't even link to its own site/store to sell stuff via Safari and everything either had to be in-app purchases or nothing?

October 10 2011 at 11:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Phil

This doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Audible already sells audiobooks through the iTunes store, where Apple also takes a 30% cut.

October 10 2011 at 9:18 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Phil's comment
Shannon Doherty

Maybe people are buying more through in-app than even the iTunes store itself.

October 10 2011 at 11:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jcroscigno

Audible is owned by Amazon. I don't think they sell through iTunes.

October 11 2011 at 12:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Jcroscigno's comment
Eric

Every audiobook I've ever bought or seen on iTunes is "Presented by Amazon.com."

I won't say every book on there is sold by them, but a great majority is.

October 13 2011 at 3:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
Eric

Of course, that was supposed to say "Audible.com," not Amazon.

October 13 2011 at 3:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down
diamondsw

The goal was to avoid apps circumventing the standard 30% cut by offering "free" apps with everything else done via in-app-purchasing, so Apple said any transaction in an app is subject to it. Unfortunately, to be consistent this roped in all kinds of pre-existing businesses that Apple has no business getting a 30% cut on - Amazon, Audible, and many others.

October 10 2011 at 7:27 PM Report abuse -1 rate up rate down Reply
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