Apple is giving some small iOS app developers a surprising Christmas present.
The iPhone maker has begun rolling out the lower App Store commission rates for some creators, cutting in-app purchase fees from 30 percent to 15 percent.
Apple had announced its plan in November to cut rates for apps that bring in less than $ 1 million a year, and said the changes would take effect January 1, but contacted developers early on, according to a report from Macrumors. . .
The Cupertino, California-based tech giant has framed the cuts, which it calls the App Store Small Business Program, as a way for smaller developers to “ continue to innovate and thrive during a period of unprecedented global economic challenges.
In its email to developers, Apple said that if a developer crosses the $ 1 million threshold sometime in 2021, the default rate of 30 percent will apply for the rest of the year.
But the new fee structure comes as Apple is accused by developers and politicians of exercising monopoly power over the App Store, which is the only way to get software on its iPhones and iPads.