Netflix Implements Apple Concession in its Mobile Apps

Following an Apple concession to big developers, Netflix is now redirecting new subscribers to the web on iPhone and iPad.

“You’re about to leave the app and go to an external website,” a new pop-up notification in the Netflix app explains. “You will no longer be transacting with Apple.”

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Halleluiah!

By redirecting new subscribers to the web, Netflix can avoid the onerous Apple Tax that would steal 30 percent of every monthly fee it obtains for doing absolutely nothing. But Apple didn’t give up this lucrative source of passive income willingly: it was forced to do so by antitrust regulators.

“Any accounts or purchases made outside of this app will be managed by the developer ‘Netflix,'” the notification continues, alluding to the direct relationship you will now have with the service provider. “Your App Store account, stored payment methods, and related features, such as subscription management and refund requests, will not be available. Apple is not responsible for the privacy or security of transactions made with this developer.”

This change was first reported by 9to5Mac.

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Conversation 17 comments

  • Daekar

    25 July, 2022 - 11:20 am

    <p>It’s about damn time. </p>

  • Stabitha.Christie

    25 July, 2022 - 11:38 am

    <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Netflix can avoid the onerous Apple Tax that would steal 30 percent of every monthly fee it obtains for doing absolutely nothing"</span></p><p><br></p><p>Netflix didn’t offer in app purchases on iOs so Netflix has always avoided the 30% fee. </p>

    • darkgrayknight

      Premium Member
      25 July, 2022 - 1:54 pm

      <p>At least now they can communicate to users that they can purchase a subscription.</p>

      • lvthunder

        Premium Member
        25 July, 2022 - 2:31 pm

        <p>You don’t think people are smart enough to figure that out?</p>

        • ronh

          Premium Member
          26 July, 2022 - 10:52 am

          <p>In my experience, most people do not not know… </p>

      • Stabitha.Christie

        25 July, 2022 - 2:32 pm

        <p>Not to point out the obvious but their users already pay for a subscription, that is what makes them a user. So it would potential users and do you think there was really any confusion on how to sign up for Netflix? Do you think most people that were not Neflix users download the app, didn’t see a way to sign up and just gave up? I find that fairly unlikely. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • Stabitha.Christie

      25 July, 2022 - 6:34 pm

      <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Scratch that. Apparently Netflix did add IAP at some point. </span></p>

  • wshwe

    25 July, 2022 - 2:15 pm

    <p>Apple doesn’t steal. Apple has every right to charge App Store fees since they invented the iPhone. Netflix is free to invent and sell their own smartphone and tablet.</p>

    • Stabitha.Christie

      25 July, 2022 - 2:35 pm

      <p>Nooo Apple steals… They absolutely don’t invest in the OS or the developer tools or creating an ecosystem that users want to use…. they just run around stealing. </p>

    • Informed

      26 July, 2022 - 8:49 pm

      <p>Without the presence of apps, iOS devices would be near-worthless to users. Apps, free and paid, provide VALUE to Apple just by being in their app store. Apple taking a cut off developer profits seems to me like a landlord demanding a percentage of storeowner profits. A landlord that made such demands would be passed over for the next. Apple making similar demands cannot simply be passed over due to their monopoly-like status.</p>

  • lvthunder

    Premium Member
    25 July, 2022 - 2:42 pm

    <p>Don’t worry Apple will just add a fee somewhere else when everyone starts doing this.</p><p><br></p><p>Paul is flat out wrong though when he says Apple doesn’t do anything. Let’s take Netflix specifically. Apple pushes out the updates to the app which happen all the time. Apple also pushes out whatever notification they want to those that enable them saying a new episode of XXX is out. We can have a discussion about what the fee should be, but to say Apple doesn’t do anything is false.</p>

    • Paul Thurrott

      Premium Member
      25 July, 2022 - 6:06 pm

      <p>They don’t do anything with regards to Netflix accounts. Other than take them and not let Netflix access them. Which is why this is good. This isn’t a question about the broader Store and what services it provides. It’s about this one thing. </p><p><br></p><p>And Apple provides no services here at all, other than harming developers.</p>

    • red.radar

      Premium Member
      26 July, 2022 - 8:03 am

      <p>Didnt know Netflix expanded into adult content. </p><p><br></p><p>I guess you can get the shaft direct from Netflix without having to be redirected to the web </p>

  • Stabitha.Christie

    25 July, 2022 - 6:26 pm

    <p>“<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">They don’t do anything with regards to Netflix accounts. Other than take them and not let Netflix access them. Which is why this is good.”</span></p><p><br></p><p>This isn’t true. Apple has never taken Netflix accounts. Netflix has always done account creation through their website of iOS users.</p>

    • Stabitha.Christie

      25 July, 2022 - 6:33 pm

      <p>Retract that. Apparently Netflix did add IAP at some point. </p>

      • rm

        26 July, 2022 - 10:15 am

        <p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Apparently Netflix did add IAP at some point." Pretty sure Apple required Netflix to add that at some point.</span></p>

        • Stabitha.Christie

          26 July, 2022 - 12:35 pm

          <p>Nope, they had it from 2015-2018. From 2018 to the present they have not had it. </p>

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