Apple to let media apps avoid 30% fee after global scrutiny

The announcement comes at a time of rising regulatory scrutiny and criticism of the market dominance of Apple and Alphabet's Google on mobile platforms

Apple will allow developers of some apps like Netflix to link from its App Store to external websites for payments by users, a modest concession to global scrutiny of the 30 per cent cut it typically takes from services and purchases on the iPhone.

The Cupertino, California-based technology giant said the change will go into effect globally early next year for so-called reader apps spanning content like magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music and video. To date, Apple has forced such applications to use its in-app purchase system, which gives Apple up to a 30 per cent commission on downloads and in-app