Financial Times removes app from iOS App Store

Financial Times has pulled its main app from Apple’s App Store, effectively discontinuing mobile subscriptions for iOS-based devices. The reason for this move is Apple’s terms of mobile subscriptions. Apple requires that all mobile app subscriptions be placed directly through its online store. This means that they have control over all accompanying user data. FT of course, had a problem with this model. They also had a problem with losing 30 percent of app revenue to Apple. FT Head of Product Development, MB Christie said, “By not knowing who our customers are, we can’t give access to all devices, if you signed up. [Not giving the 30 percent cut of purchases] is a side benefit of not having to go through the Apple cycle. However, it would have been a different conversation if the data was available.”

Access through your iPad’s browser

Financial Times had launched a web version of its app, which is accessible from the mobile browser, therefore maintaining its traffic via iOS devices. Development of this web app started in 2010, before Apple announced its subscription terms. According to paidContent, the FT web app had 100,000 users in its first week, and currently has 550,000 uses. This move by Financial Times is very similar to Facebook’s Project Spartan, where Facebook is looking to take down iOS via iOS itself. Their move is to make Facebook a web app for iOS devices, as well as facilitate the purchasing of Credits via the web app, so the iOS App Store does not get 30 percent of that revenue.

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