Apple Unveils Long-Dreaded App Subscription Plan

Apple at long last introduced its long-rumored subscription plan—whether app developers like it or not. The system not only sets up an easy way to charge recurring payments for iPad/iPhone/iPod content, it also mandates that developers use it if they want to set up any kind of subscription service, All Things Digital reports. That rule won’t just apply to newspapers or magazines either, but to video, music, and anything else.

“All we require is that, if a publisher is making a subscription offer outside of the app, the same (or better) offer be made inside the app, so customers can easily subscribe with one-click,” Steve Jobs said in a press release. Which likely sounds fine to users, but not to developers, who will have to fork over 30% of the money they make on those subscriptions to Apple. (More iPhone stories.)