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Comment by davidg109 | Hacker News Reader

I’m on Apple’s side on this one. They’ve made Hey’s choice simple: change it so it’s compatible for people to use their mainstream email services (no $ involved), or make it subscription out of the box. Currently you need some dumb invite-only code.

I actually feel misled by Hey’s comments pointing out that Netflix, etc. require a subscription to make the app useful. It wasn’t until I little additional digging revealed that the main difference you can order it straight away, and Apple still charges them the 30% fee. To get around this, Netflix charges for in-app or you can order cheaper directly from their site. I don’t believe Apple’s store T&C’s indicate Netflix is violating anything through this model.

Really this is about how much is too much for Apple’s fee structure. I suspect regulators may try to force Apple to allow other App Stores (like Android) but then the usual problems will surface re: security, etc.

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I'm with HEY on this issue.

As of a few months ago, Netflix abandoned in-app purchases entirely on Apple platforms. Try it yourself: sign out of your Netflix account on iOS and try and create a new account. There is no option to pay for a Netflix subscription within the app on iOS. It just isn't there.

Fastmail is another app already on the App store that requires an account (but has no option to sign up within the app itself). Salesforce Inbox and GMail are two other email apps currently on the App store that do not allow the user to sign up within the app itself.

(An aside about Gmail: I'm now receiving almost-daily emails from Google

> Your Gmail is full. Get more storage now with a Google One membership. Plans start at $1.99 a month.

How much of that money do you think Apple would like to get? How much of that money goes to Apple? None. That is not implemented as an in-app purchase. )

I’m still seeing in-app purchases as an option via App Store for Netflix. I can’t comment on the other apps you mentioned except for Gmail. And here’s where I disagree with you.

Gmail is still functional without paying anything. You don’t hit a paywall immediately after downloading. The app provides immediate functionality to users. If Google decided to force subscription-only, that’s when Apple would be saying you need to either open it up, or use our in-app subscription service. Google’s upsell is not a requirement to use Gmail’s basic functionality.

The app must provide immediately functionality after downloading. Guess how much functionality the Hey app I downloaded is providing to me right now? Zero. Because I need an “invite-only” code.

* Just to add, I’m on the Canadian App Store, so perhaps differences with Netflix in-app purchases. Dunno.

My Hey app is also providing me with zero functionality as well. I'm not being dismissive of your issue.

You know, maybe you do have a point (HEY should be using Apple's in-app purchase system). They should set it up as a weekly auto-renewing subscription at the most expensive price point possible ($1,299 USD). Maybe then Apple would leave them alone.

*(@dhh has said that HEY will be removing the invitation-only restriction in July).

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