Apple allows Amazon to put payment links in apps

Recently, according to foreign media reports, Apple allows developers of applications such as Amazon (the largest online e-commerce company in the United States), Spotify (a legitimate streaming music service platform) and Netflix (Netflix, a membership subscription streaming media platform ) to provide links to external websites to facilitate users to create and manage accounts outside the Apple App Store, thereby avoiding the application store commission.

The move is part of a settlement with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTP) and applies to apps that “do not offer in-app digital goods and services for purchase.” While the policy is a result of action in Japan, Apple said it will make changes to its App Stores worldwide.

According to users, this policy is not automatically enabled and developers need to request access to the external link account authorization process before adding application links.

As we all know, a company as huge as Apple is, it is also known for its strict App Store rules, and no matter how big other companies are, they are reluctant to break the rules. One of its popular guidelines revolves around how iOS app developers cannot link their own payment methods, which in turn forces developers to use Apple’s in-app purchase system and pay Apple a 15-30% commission.

As early as 2020, there was news that the EU launched the "Digital Markets Act". Until recently, the "Digital Markets Act" was approved by EU countries and the EU legislature. The bill targets international giants such as Google, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. As the entire society continues to become more digitalized, the influence of technology giants is also growing, and regulators around the world are also increasing their regulatory scrutiny of them.

In response to regulatory policies in countries around the world, Apple’s solution is just a simple in-app link to the service provider’s website.

Unlike Apple, tech giant Google has also launched a program to test third-party billing systems in Android, providing users with the option to pay outside the Play Store, which is also Google's solution to regulators.

Spotify is one of the beta testers for Google's new feature, which will give Android users the option to use the Google or Spotify billing system side by side.

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