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Spotify is pitch up to test Apple ’s response to new European regulation designed to prevent so - called digital “ gatekeepers ” from engaging in anticompetitive drill .
The music - streaming gianthas shared a lot of mockupsto illustrate what its iPhone and iPad app could soon look like , include information about pricing , subscription offer and in - app payment for iOS user in the EU — this is in response tothe Digital Markets Act ( DMA ) , which goes into effect on March 7 .
The new rules prevent “ anti - steering ” practices , whereby the program owner — in this subject Apple — forbid app developer from informing their users about alternate payment or subscription options . And the DMA also has provisions for forbid gatekeepers from requiring developers to practice their own payment services .
Apple has yet to communicate on the dot how it will respond to the new DMA rules , so Spotify ’s proclamation today is in some ways theoretic given that Apple still controls the program , and it might have a few prank up its sleeve to make living difficult for companies looking to exploit the DMA ’s provisions .
Spotify said that it will begin wheel out some of these features starting March 7 . But , it admitted that how much of the vision the company can achieve will bet on Apple ’s compliance of DMA .
However , Spotify is hopeful — it has presented a dreamy imagination where drug user can easily switch plans , buy individual audiobooks , and provide user to download Spotify either from alternativeapp stores or through sideloading .
“ For years , even in our own app , Apple had these rules where we could n’t tell you about whirl , how much something costs , or even where or how to buy it . We know , somewhat nuts . The DMA imply that we’llfinallybe able to share details about quite a little , promotions , and better - value payment pick in the EU , ” Spotify said in ablog post .
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You ’re about to experience a new Spotify if you last in the EU . One where you’re able to see all subscription pricing , promotions or plenty , and even make purchase , all seamlessly within the app . Find out what this means for you : https://t.co / j1hYRC3S5cpic.twitter.com / p1GDY6PNdd
— Spotify News ( @SpotifyNews)January 24 , 2024
We have ask Spotify if it in reality plans to roll out any of the characteristic name in the mockups on March 7 — we will update the story if we hear back .
“ The way that podcast as we know it really lead off develop on iOS has always had these restrictions … You have n’t been capable inside of the app to upsell to gated subject matter , sole subject matter , and enhance subject matter , ” he told the publication .
In the last few yr , Spotify hascanceled various shows and laid off workersfrom many team including podcasting . However , unions consisting of these worker have said that Spotify ’s leading directly contribute to the low number ofpodcasts that were cancel .
Spotify has been in a public tryst with Apple for a while now . It stopped offering iOS user an alternative tobuy subscriptions from the app in 2016 . Last twelvemonth , Spotify evencanceled bequest subscriptionsmanaged through the App Store .
Last year , during the Epic fivesome Google trial , an administrator at the search monster admit thatSpotify paid 0 % commission to Googleif the streaming serving used its own requital arrangement .
Apple has face regulatory scrutiny in many regions such as the Netherlands , South Korea , Japan , andmost latterly the U.S. While the company has engage measures like allowing in - app promotions for subscriptions and the use of alternative requital central processing unit , it typically gives 3 - 4 % deduction on the App Store fee for digital purchase .
