Photo Credit: Sourabh Jhajharia
Spotify will update its app on Apple devices in the European Union to include price plans for its services, after months of fighting with the iPhone maker.
Spotify has been fighting with Apple for what feels like ages now over Apple’s tax and restrictions on developers in its App Store, but now, changes are on the horizon. Spotify will finally update its app on Apple devices in the European Union this week to include prices of its various plans and services — more than three months after Apple rejected the change.
“While this is progress, it’s only a small step in the long march towards giving iPhone consumers basic product experiences they expect and deserve in their apps,” said Spotify.
Apple initially balked at Spotify’s proposal, namely due to Spotify’s unwillingness to accept Apple’s Music Streaming Services Entitlement, its newly released terms determining how music streaming apps in the EU inform users of all their options when it comes to making purchases. According to Apple, accepting its music streaming terms did not require an external link for making payments.
The Stockholm-based music streaming giant has now agreed to those terms, but its updated app will not provide an external link for users to make purchases, only outlining their options for doing so. Spotify has been champing at the bit to avoid paying Apple a commission on these transactions for the privilege of its app being hosted on the App Store.
But Apple has gradually made it easier for music streaming services to communicate with users on iOS devices in the EU, beginning in April — just a month after the company was fined in the region for “thwarting competition” from music streaming rivals through its App Store restrictions.
Spotify reported a promising second quarter, with the company reducing costs, growing subscribers, and improving margins. Still, the platform remains behind both Apple and Amazon in terms of high-resolution audio offerings. Earlier this summer, Spotify expanded its services by adding video support for all podcasts on the platform.
