Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Can HTML5 replace an iPad app? Financial Times to find out — Apple News, Tips and Reviews

It is one thing to debate the merits of HTML5 as an alternative to creating and using mobile apps. It is quite another to note that, within the Apple iOS ecosystem, there is an "application tax" of 30 percent of gross revenues for any entity selling content within the Apple App Store.

The Financial Times, which in June introduced a tablet and smartphone-optimized version of its digital edition, has removed its apps from the iOS App Store instead of complying with Apple’s requirements for software that offer in-app access to subscription content.

The Financial Times instead will work outside the App Store using HTML5 apps, keeping the 30 percent of gross revenue it otherwise would have had to pay Apple.

Apple now requires that newspaper and periodical apps offering access to subscription content either offer subscriptions through in-app purchase, which entitles Apple to a 30 percent cut of all revenue.

FT‘s subscriptions were handled outside of the store, and rather than just remove the sign-up link like The Wall Street Journal did, FT apparently prefers removing its native software altogether in the hopes that readers will make the transition to the web-based app.

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