Google has already obtained permission to sell e-books and audiobooks directly to customers through its iOS app, Google Play Books. While iOS apps can now provide access to content previously purchased elsewhere—such as e-books purchased on a website—developers must seek special permission to link users of their iOS app to the company's own website for purchase.
According to a short Google blog post, users can now click a new “Get book” button in the Google Play Books iOS app, which will take them to the Google Play website to complete their e-book or audiobook purchase.
From there, users can see their recently opened books and make purchases using their Google Account and saved payment information.
By processing the transaction on its own website, Google can avoid paying a commission to Apple (typically 30%) on in-app purchases of digital content.
Additionally, users of the iOS app can also share their books with a family in Google Play's Family Library, even if the family member uses iOS, Android, or the web as their device for reading or listening.
To implement this change, Google apparently applied for an exemption called External Link Account Entitlement, originally introduced as a result of Apple's agreement with a Japanese regulator, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC), in 2022.
This regulation focuses on “reader apps”—that is, apps used primarily to access digital content such as magazines, books, audio, music, or video. To use the entitlement, developers need to seek additional approval from Apple and follow other rules, such as how the website should be displayed when the external link is clicked, how it's formatted, how it's referenced in the app's code, and so on.
This regulation also requires users to be shown a full-screen announcement warning that they are no longer transacting with Apple after they click an external link.
Google has not explained why they decided to offer direct purchases only now, but they may be waiting for the outcome of the case between Fortnite maker Epic Games and Apple.
Hindi ipinaliwanag ng Google kung bakit ngayon lamang sila nagdesisyong mag-alok ng direktang pagbili, ngunit maaaring hinihintay nila ang resulta ng kaso sa pagitan ng Fortnite maker na Epic Games at Apple.
In that case, Apple was found not to have a monopoly, but also confirmed that Apple must allow app developers to link to their own websites for purchase. The Supreme Court declined to hear the appeal in January 2024, so the original lower court decision stood.
