Key facts
- Apple proposes a 15% commission on purchases made through external links in iOS apps.
- Apple's proposal includes discounts for developers in special programs.
- Apple's proposal includes discounts for subscription renewals.
- A US District Judge ordered Google to simplify alternative Android app store downloads.
- The judge cited "anticompetitive friction" in the Google Play Store.
- The order requires Google to make it easier to download alternative Android app stores.
Apple has put forward a proposal for new commission rates on purchases initiated through external links within applications on its iOS operating system. The proposed standard commission rate stands at 15%. This rate is subject to further reductions for developers participating in specific special programs and also for the renewal of subscriptions. This move by Apple comes as regulatory scrutiny of app store policies intensifies globally.
In a separate development, a US District Judge has mandated that Google must streamline the process for users to download alternative app stores via the Google Play Store. The judge cited the existence of "anticompetitive friction" within the current Play Store system as the reason for this order. This ruling aims to reduce barriers for users seeking to access app marketplaces beyond Google's own.