Apple has agreed to ease payment limits on its App Store, a significant shift revealed in a deal with small developers as the US technology behemoth suffers increased scrutiny and legal challenges over its tightly regulated online marketplace.
The move would enable small developers to inform their consumers about payment methods other than the official App Store.
In a class-action complaint, the developers accused Apple of monopolistic distribution methods by acting as the exclusive portal for getting applications or other content onto iPhones and other iOS-powered devices.
“The agreement clarifies that developers can share purchase options with users outside of their iOS app; expands the price points developers can offer for subscriptions, in-app purchases, and paid apps; and establishes a new fund to assist qualifying US developers,” the company said in a statement late Thursday.
