Apple has launched a new App Store website which states, in part:
We created the App Store with two goals in mind: that it be a safe and trusted place for customers to discover and download apps, and a great business opportunity for all developers.
We take responsibility for ensuring that apps are held to a high standard for privacy, security, and content because nothing is more important than maintaining the trust of our users.
Today, the App Store is more vibrant and innovative than ever, offering equal opportunities to developers to deliver their apps and services across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. We’re proud of the store we’ve built and the way we’ve built it.
Since the launch of the App Store, an entire industry has been built around app design and development, generating over 1,500,000 U.S. jobs and over 1,570,000 jobs across Europe.
We’re proud that, to date, developers have earned more than $120 billion worldwide from selling digital goods and services in apps distributed by the App Store.
84% of apps are free, and developers pay nothing to Apple.
Like any fair marketplace, developers decide what they want to charge from a set of price tiers. We only collect a commission from developers when a digital good or service is delivered through an app. Here are some of the ways developers commonly make money on the App Store.
A store that welcomes competition.
We believe competition makes everything better and results in the best apps for our customers.
Apple’s new App Store ‘Principles and Practices’ website is here.
MacDailyNews Take: Obviously a response to the ongoing litigation that claims, laughably, that Apple’s App Store has raised software prices.
Laughably, because nothing ever created has lowered software prices more across the board than Apple’s App Store.
Related articles:
Apple’s App Store: monopoly or miracle? – May 28, 2019
Apple’s Supreme Court loss could change the way you buy apps – May 14, 2019
U.S. Supreme Court opens door for App Store lawsuit that Apple will likely win – May 14, 2019
Analyst: Apple investors ‘overreacting’ to U.S.-China trade war and Supreme Court App Store ruling – May 14, 2019
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh’s Apple App Store decision has ‘shaken up’ antitrust law – May 13, 2019
U.S. Supreme Court allows antitrust suit against Apple over App Store; AAPL slides 5% – May 13, 2019
Supreme Court rules against Apple in App Store antitrust case – May 13, 2019
Antitrust, the App Store, and Apple – November 27, 2018
Trump administration backs Apple in U.S. Supreme Court over App Store antitrust suit – November 26, 2018
Apple defends App Store fees in U.S. Supreme Court – November 26, 2018
Apple defends App Store fees as U.S. Supreme Court weighs consumer suit – November 23, 2018
Apple wants U.S. Supreme Court to undo previous decision regarding an antitrust suit – October 31, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court will decide if Apple’s App Store is an anti-competitive monopoly – June 19, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court to consider Apple appeal in antitrust suit over App Store prices – June 18, 2018
US DOJ sides with Apple over App Store antitrust allegations in Supreme Court brief – May 10, 2018
9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revives antitrust lawsuit against Apple – January 13, 2017
Apple App Store antitrust complaint dismissed on procedural grounds by U.S. judge – August 16, 2013
“A store that welcomes competition.”
Except when they don’t. Like allowing Apple’s customers to decide which apps they want to be the default for music, web browsing, email, etc.
I find it funny how so many people complained about Microsoft’s practices around browsers back in the day, yet hardly anyone complains about Apple doing the same thing in iOS now.
That being said, Apple’s software does tend to be pretty decent (Numbers and Pages being dumbed-down, and Books being particularly lacking in features, notwithstanding).
Apple’s overall quality has simply dropped in the last few years, while their prices continue to rise. Great for shareholders, at least in the short term, not so great for customers.
The butterfly keyboard issue, the MIA Mac Pro, etc., all show how Apple is much more focused on profitability than on innovation these days. Which is a shame- I miss the days when Apple’s product announcements had truly new features and technologies, and when Apple’s products had a demonstrably lower cost of ownership than their competitors, which doesn’t seem to be the case any longer. There’s always been the “Apple Tax”, but at least you knew you were getting a better performing, longer lasting piece of kit for that cost. Nowadays, no more upgrading your computer to keep it going- Apple wants you to buy a new one. Again, great for profitability, not great for customers.
This take is right on the money. Apple’s extremely anti-competitive in iOS. It’s worse than MS’s browser behavior, because all they did was strong-arm the default app set. Apple flat-out WILL NOT offer a way to change default handlers for their core “services” (maps, browser, phone, media player, etc.)
Until loudly called out on it, they excluded competing apps entirely that encroached on their core services, and to this day they are treated with unequal scrutiny.
They include their good partner Google as an email account type in their mail program, but then provide terrible performance for it, creating the false illusion that Google’s mail service is subpar.
Undermining competitors at every possible turn is petty and especially so when claiming to provide a fair/welcoming app environment. Dishonest.