Apple Rejects Sony’s App, Kindle Next?
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Sony’s plans to sell its e-book content on the iPad have hit a major roadblock. The company has had its application rejected by Apple. The app would have allowed iPad owners to purchase and read e-books from Sony’s ebook store. As the New York Times put it:
Apple rejected Sony’s iPhone application, which would have let people buy and read e-books bought from the Sony Reader Store. Apple told Sony that from now on, all in-app purchases would have to go through Apple, said Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading division.
While it is not exactly clear what Sony was aiming to do from within its application, it has not stopped people from coming up with sensationalist predictions about the future of Kindle on iPad. So far there are no reasons to believe Kindle will be booted off the iOS App Store. Sony has every right to be disappointed with Apple’s decision but the company may have gotten in trouble for trying to sell ebooks from within its application (rather than through the web like Kindle’s approach):
We would like to update everyone on the status of our Reader™ for iPhone® mobile application. We created an app that we’re very excited about, which includes all the features you’ve come to expect from a mobile reading application – including access to your existing collection, synching with your Reader Daily Edition™ and purchasing new content as is possible on other mobile platforms.
Unfortunately, with little notice, Apple changed the way it enforces its rules and this will prevent the current version of the Reader™ for iPhone® from being available in the app store. We opened a dialog with Apple to see if we can come up with an equitable resolution but reached an impasse at this time. We’re exploring other avenues to bring the Reader experience to Apple mobile devices. We know that many of you are eagerly awaiting the application and we appreciate your continued patience.
As Sony suggests, there may be other ways to bring “Reader experience” to Apple mobile devices. That clearly suggests Sony is doing something that is deemed to be not OK by Apple. Kindle app for iOS should not be in trouble at this point since its approach is different from that of Reader’s. At the same time, Apple could go after other third-party e-book reader apps to give its own app a better chance to compete with the top dogs. Apple may force Amazon and other e-book companies to go through iTunes for all e-book purchases done on iPads. That move could boost Apple’s revenue and put extra pressure on its rivals. Inconvenient but not implausible.
Do you agree with Apple’s decision?
