On Wednesday, Spotify said that it has updated its app for subscribers in the European Union, including price details and other basic site information. Most importantly, the version is missing the website URL.
According to the streaming service, it will not be participating in the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) amendments that impose a “core technology fee” on developers that have over 1 million downloads per year.
According to the business, the latest update conforms to the decision of the European Commission by providing just the barest minimum of information.
Our dedication to providing users with genuine choice in our app remains unwavering, even in the face of Apple’s efforts to impose extra costs on developers. That’s why we’ve sent Apple an updated version. Dustee Jenkins, Spotify’s chief public relations officer, made the statement. It includes the very minimum required by the European Commission’s verdict in its music streaming dispute, which is basic price and website information.
Apple continues to violate European law by making developers pay to connect with users via in-app links. The Commission should finally put its decision into action so that consumers may experience tangible advantages.
Since Apple has not yet given its approval, Spotify will have to hold off until the version is online. Once Apple gives the go-ahead, Spotify free users in the EU will have access to information about premium subscriptions, including price and benefits.
But consumers can’t purchase the plans via the company’s website, even if there’s a link to it. The final version, according to Spotify, will feature text that says customers have to go to the website in their browsers to purchase a plan.
Similar to what Spotify did last month, it sent an update to the App Store that linked to its website. But Apple wasn’t on board with that version, and the music streaming service never heard back from Apple.
According to Spotify, the Digital Marketplace Act (DMA) mandates that app stores, such as Apple’s App Store, allow companies to push various deals to app users.
The European Commission fined Apple €1.84 billion ($2 billion) for anticompetitive actions in the music-streaming business, prompting Spotify to file the preceding update. Apple has responded by stating that it will contest the EC’s ruling.
Commissioner Margrethe Vestager of the European Commission said at the time that going forward, Apple will be required to let music streaming providers freely contact their consumers via the app, email, or any other means of communication.
