Financial Times removes iOS app over subscription rules


31 Aug 2011

The Financial Times removed its iPhone and iPad app from the iTunes Store after it refused to comply with Apple’s recent magazine subscription terms.

paidContent reports that The Financial Times was given two months to implement Apple’s new compliance rule which stated that in-app subscription payments must go through the iTunes Store.

The Financial Times said that they decided to remove their iPad and iPhone app from the store after “amicable” discussions with Apple.

Instead, it is directing users to a web app replacement of the publication, asking them to subscribe to that instead.

Apple’s new subscription rules drew controversy from publishers for its terms. There was speculation that it could draw antitrust scrutiny if it becomes a dominant distributor of digital subscriptions.

While other publishers accepted the rules, The Wall Street Journal ended all transactions within its iOS apps, saying the new rules “would create a poor experience” for readers who couldn’t manage their WSJ account or content across numerous platforms.