Protonmail does not dare to scrap in-app purchases forced by Apple

ProtonMail had to add in-app purchases from Apple to its free iOS app, the CEO confirms. That obligation is no longer there, but ProtonMail says it fears removing the integration of in-app purchases. its iOS app in 2018 as a surprise. The app was free, but Apple had found references in the app’s text to paid plans and had seen paid plans on the site. That’s why ProtonMail’s company demanded that in-app purchases be processed in the app, Yen claims against The Verge, who said ProtonMail met that demand to save the company. “You can’t say anything more then. They are judge, jury and executioner on their platform.” According to the CEO, ProtonMail was unable to make updates to its app for a month and Apple threatened to remove the app if the integration was delayed. According to him, the implementation of security updates was also not possible during that period. Apple changed its policy on September 11. Since then, free apps that serve as stand-alone help with a paid web service no longer need to have in-app purchases. Apple explicitly mentions mail apps. Still, ProtonMail has not yet removed the integration, it says for fear of retaliation. Apple’s policy still requires developers not to communicate that purchases outside of the app are possible. Apple nuances The Verge that this only concerns communication within the app. Developers would in any case be afraid to speak out against Apple’s actions, Yen adds, comparing it to mafia practices. ProtonMail is one of the members of the Coalition for App Fairness, which was created to stand up to Apple, which also includes Epic Games and Spotify. WordPress previously announced that it would have to integrate in-app purchases into its iOS devices. app. Apple then reversed that requirement. If iOS apps offer in-app purchases, Apple receives 30 percent of its revenue. Apple has long been under fire for its App Store policies. A US government report came out this week accusing the company of using its policies to create barriers to competition, fend off rivals, impose high prices on app developers, and prioritize its own offerings.