In-App Subscriptions

NBA app updated ahead of the start of the new season

The NBA preseason is underway, and the start of the NBA regular season is coming up soon, on October 17th, when the Warriors take on the Rockets. The NBA app for iOS has been recently updated to prepare for the start of the new season. The new version of the app includes all of the following updates:

App Store Review Guidelines updated with details on subscriptions, SiriKit and iMessage

In addition to beefing up App Store quality control by removing poorly maintained apps and those with 50+ characters in their name starting September 7, Apple also updated the official App Store Review Guidelines with details on app subscriptions, SiriKit and downloadable iMessage content. “As you plan and develop your apps for the upcoming releases of iOS 10, macOS Sierra, watchOS and tvOS, make sure to read these updated guidelines,” writes Apple.

Apple confirms that subscription apps won’t be obliged to offer free functionality

There has been a lot of confusion following Apple's App Store shakeup concerning subscription apps.

First and foremost, does Apple require subscription apps to be functional in some limited way without a subscription, as is the case with apps that use In-App Purchases, or will subscription apps require a subscription to use the app at all? If Apple's comment to MacWorld is to be taken at face value, both could be true.

Google copies Apple’s 85/15 revenue split for subscriptions, without 1-year requirement

Google surely didn't waste any time yesterday. Just a few hours into Apple's App Store announcements which revealed a new 85/15 revenue split for In-App Subscriptions, the Internet giant told Re/code that it, too, will be making a similar change concerning Android app subscriptions on the Play store.

But unlike Apple, which stipulates that devs will see the 70/30 revenue split turn into a 85/15 deal one after one full year of subscription, Google's Play Store 85/15 split would take effect immediately, without the one-year requirement.