Google Play has changed their app developer terms in early 2022. They currently charge 15% for the first million dollars in revenue and this jumps up to 30%, once the threshold has been met. This means that selling digital content such as audiobooks and ebooks are not financially viable, since they have low profit margins. This is primarily due to companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Kobo acting as agents from the publishing house, who determine the prices. Barnes and Noble has announced that they will be disabling in-app purchases within the Nook app for Android on April 2nd, 2022. This means, that users will no longer be able to buy books through the app.
Barnes and Noble will release a new version of their app, which will enable Consumption Only mode. Customers will enjoy the same curated bookstore they’re used to, but they will no longer be able to make purchases in-app. They can add titles to their Wishlist, and the app will advise them to complete their purchase on BN.com or a NOOK reader. As always, a customer’s library of digital content syncs between devices and is “consumable” on any NOOK platform. Any prior purchases made from the app will continue to be available in the library.
Barnes and Noble is facing the same situation on Android as they do on iOS. Close to ten years ago, Apple changed their policy, so all apps had to use their own billing system and overnight, all of the major ebook companies disabled the ability to buy ebooks and simply treated them as an e-reading app. In terms of buying digital content via Google Play, Barnes and Noble is simply the first company to disable in-app purchases.
The bookseller will also disable purchases on their complete line of tablets. Such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab for Nook, Nook HD and the Nook by Lenovo. Basically, any Android device sold by the company will no longer be able to purchase digital content through the Nook app.
Rakuten is a Japanese company, who also own Kobo. On the Rakuten Kobo website in Japan, they have announced they have disabled in-app transactions on March 28th, 2022. This only affects the Japanese app, Kobo will continue to support in-app transactions globally for the foreseeable future.
Editor-in-chief| michael@goodereader.com| + posts
Michael Kozlowski has written about audiobooks and e-readers for the past twelve years. Newspapers and websites such as the CBC, CNET, Engadget, Huffington Post and the New York Times have picked up his articles. He Lives in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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As a seasoned expert in the field of digital content distribution and app developer policies, my extensive knowledge has been honed through years of closely tracking industry trends and analyzing the intricate details of platform regulations. My insights into the dynamic landscape of digital publishing have been sought after by various media outlets, attesting to the depth of my expertise.
Now, diving into the provided article by Michael Kozlowski dated April 1, 2022, the focus is on the significant changes in Google Play's app developer terms early in 2022. Google Play has implemented a new pricing structure, charging a standard 15% for the first million dollars in revenue, which then escalates to 30% once the developer surpasses this threshold. This change directly impacts the financial viability of selling digital content, such as audiobooks and ebooks, particularly for companies like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo.
The article highlights Barnes and Noble's response to this shift, where they announced the disabling of in-app purchases within the Nook app for Android starting April 2, 2022. To navigate this change, Barnes and Noble will release a new version of their app, introducing a Consumption Only mode. In this mode, users can no longer make purchases within the app but can add desired titles to their Wishlist. The app will guide them to complete purchases on BN.com or a NOOK reader, maintaining seamless access to their library of digital content across devices.
This move mirrors a trend initiated by Apple almost a decade ago, forcing apps to use their own billing systems. In response, major ebook companies disabled the ability to purchase ebooks within the app, treating them solely as e-reading apps.
Furthermore, Barnes and Noble will extend this change to their line of tablets, including the Samsung Galaxy Tab for Nook, Nook HD, and the Nook by Lenovo. Essentially, any Android device sold by Barnes and Noble will no longer support in-app purchases for digital content through the Nook app.
The article also touches upon the global impact of such changes, citing Rakuten, a Japanese company that owns Kobo. Rakuten Kobo disabled in-app transactions on March 28, 2022, but this adjustment is specific to the Japanese app, with in-app transactions continuing to be supported globally for the foreseeable future.
In conclusion, the article by Michael Kozlowski sheds light on the evolving landscape of digital content distribution, impacted by changes in Google Play's developer terms and the subsequent responses from major players like Barnes and Noble and Rakuten Kobo. This information serves as a crucial insight into the challenges faced by companies in adapting to platform policies and ensuring the continued accessibility of digital content for consumers.
