Paddle wants to be first to replace Apple’s in-app billing system for developers

By Michael Allison Updated October 7, 2021

As a result of Apple and Epic’s lawsuit, the former company is now restricted from stopping app developers from directing their users to alternate payment methods in their apps. As a result, a solutions provider business, Paddle, has announced a replacement service for Apple’s in-app purchase system to go live in December.

“Paddle In-App Purchase is a true like-for-like, drop-in replacement for Apple’s IAP, allowing developers to maintain a seamless user experience, without having to pay Apple 30% of every sale,” Paddle shared in a press release, adding: “Paddle has a highly competitive fee structure, charging just 10% for transactions under $10, and just 5% on transactions over $10. This means that developers earn more from every purchase. ”

Paddle truly offers an interesting package deal to developers, giving them more of a cut than Apple does and offering discrete per-region pricing and flexible subscription options like pausing a subscription. The bigger issue is that Apple is unlikely to interpret the ruling in the manner that Paddle understands it to be.

Fortnite on the app store. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Speaking to iMore, Florian Mueller of Foss Patents explained, “The injunction is merely meant to enable app developers to tell customers that, for example, they could make the same in-app purchase at a lower cost if they play the same game on a Samsung phone and download the app there via the Galaxy Store.”

Paddle could try and launch its payment system as advertised, but the plain reading of the ruling is that Apple can’t stop developers from pointing to discounts on their websites or elsewhere, rather than them opening up the App Store’s payments system in its entirety such that developers could integrate alternate payment systems into their own apps. There is some ambiguity there, however, and a clash with Apple could be inevitable.

“Our understanding, and that of our legal advisors, is that Paddle In-App Purchase is permissible within the Apple vs. Epic legal ruling,” said Paddle, in a statement to TechCrunch. “We would welcome Apple sharing its own interpretation on this to bring further clarity to an issue that will have a significant impact on iOS developers and the wider market.”

Topics

Michael Allison

Former Digital Trends Contributor

A UK-based tech journalist for Digital Trends, helping keep track and make sense of the fast-paced world of tech with a…

Mobile

I replaced my Apple Watch with a Garmin — and I don’t want to go back

Apple Watch Series 7 next to the Garmin Forerunner 265.

The Apple Watch has been my go-to wearable for years. I began my journey with the Apple Watch Series 1 in 2017, upgraded to the Apple Watch Series 4 shortly after it launched, and then jumped to the Apple Watch Series 7 in 2021. It's long been my smartwatch platform of choice, and I've never had any desire to switch to something else.

At least, that's what I thought before I began using a Garmin smartwatch. I started testing the Garmin Forerunner 265 earlier this year, and I went into it with a pretty clear plan: I'd wear the watch for a couple of weeks, write my review, and move back to the Apple Watch. Fast forward to now, and my Garmin Forerunner 265 review has been published, no further testing is required, and nothing is stopping me from returning to my Apple Watch. But here's the thing — I don't want to. Garmin's watch is so good that I have no desire to put the Apple Watch back on my wrist, and there are a few big reasons why.
The surprising importance of buttons

Mobile

No, you can’t use an Apple gift card on Apple Pay

Photo of Apple gift cards.

A viral TikTok has made the internet rounds, showing a person who thought that they could transfer Apple gift card funds to Apple Pay. After buying a $300 Apple gift card, however, they quickly learned that that's simply not possible. While their choice might seem misguided in hindsight, there are plenty of people who have been left confused about the differences between Apple gift cards and Apple Pay.

While having a $300 Apple gift card certainly has its uses — such as buying 10 years of Apple Music, as the original poster jokingly pointed out — it's certainly not the same as having that same money to spend freely with Apple Pay. To avoid making the same mistake as this TikTok user, make sure that you understand the distinctions between the two Apple services, as it might just save you $300 (or more).
You cannot add Apple gift cards to Apple Pay

Mobile

It’s not just you: the Apple Weather app is down

Cloudy weather showing in iOS 15's weather app.

Stop trying to force quit apps or restart your phone, it isn't going to help. It's not just you, Apple's Weather app is down right now. There were some sporadic issues yesterday, but it seems more widespread this morning.

Whether it's on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac -- the back-end service running Apple's Weather app seems to be having issues loading data. Sometimes the home screen widget won't work; other times you'll get one or two locations in your list to update, but not the rest. Other times it all looks good, but the hour-by-hour forecast details aren't working. That's frustrating!