Apple may be preparing to change how iOS subscriptions operate a developer increases prices. Disney+ seems to have begun informing users of upcoming price changes and then automatically opting them in which is different from how subscription price increases are normally handled.
In most other cases, a customer is presented with options to either agree to the new, higher price or visit the subscriptions management page to cancel the service. If customers ignore this warning without clicking the “agree” button, the subscription is automatically canceled on their behalf.
The discrepancy with how Disney+ was operating was recently discovered by developer Max Seelemann, who claimed to have received a notification about the streamer’s price increase that only offered a large “OK” button, with fine print that informed users if they wanted to cancel, they could click a link to review their subscription.
iOS biz people… Subscription price increase as mere NOTICE instead of having to confirm, else subs expires.
Is this new behavior for everyone or exclusive to Disney+? pic.twitter.com/zt7c15QcTA
— Max Seelemann (@macguru17) March 24, 2022
Disney has tweaked prices for its streaming service over the past year, including a $1 increase for Disney+ announced in March 2021 in the U.S. The service then went from $6.99 per month to $7.99 per month, or from $69.99 to $79.99 for users on an annual subscription. Other international markets saw similar, smaller increases at different times.
While $1 is not a large or upsetting change, the concern is that unscrupulous developers could potentially use such a feature to raise prices by much higher amounts without users directly agreeing to the new charges.
MacDailyNews Note: An Apple spokesperson told techCrunch that this change to subscription pirce increase is part of a pilot test: “We are piloting a new commerce feature we plan to launch very soon. The pilot includes developers across various app categories, organization sizes and regions to help test an upcoming enhancement that we believe will be great for both developers and users, and we’ll have more details to share in the coming weeks.”
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[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
Opening paragraph: “Apple may be preparing to change how iOS subscriptions operate a developer increases prices.”
Can anyone else parse that? Does this site double check anything?
Bye fans. I can’t take this anymore.
Pat’s Parcel is preparing to change Apple news sources operate a developer increases prices, sending BSApppple into paroxysms of apoplexy
It was designed to sort the wheat from the chaff. Harden up, Princess Pat, drink a cup of cement and stop yojr friggin’ whining.
SNEEKY So much for having a choice Apple treating users with contempt and hoping buttons will be pushed without proper options offered!
This would be a great feature if Apple limited automatic subscription rate increases to only those increases that are less than the rate of inflation. Beyond that, they should have to ask subscribers to take positive steps to confirm.