14 DAY TRIAL // Apple and Google have been criticized numerous times by the European Commission. While Google has taken some steps to resolve the problems with in-app purchases, Apple has delayed the solution. Today, they have responded to the issues raised by the European Commission: the latest issues will be automatically solved when iOS 8 comes out, Apple officials say.
A report by the BBC elaborates on the problems with the Freemium apps model.
The European Commission is now forcing Apple, Google and other major players in the App market to change that and have developers tell the true cost upfront. In a statement presented by the BBC report, Apple is again the target of the Commission, "[r]egrettably, no concrete and immediate solutions have been made by Apple to date to address the concerns linked in particular to payment authorization. Apple has proposed to address those concerns. However, no firm commitment and no timing have been provided for the implementation of such possible future changes."
The Consumer protection co-operation authorities will push Apple to make sure the changes required are put into practice. If not, the member countries may sue Apple to change the way they distribute the freemium apps.
The European laws are very clear when it comes to freemium apps:
- Games advertised as "free" should not mislead consumers about the true costs involved;
- Games should not contain direct exhortation to children to buy items in a game or to persuade an adult to buy items for them;
- Consumers should be adequately informed about the payment arrangements for purchases and should not be debited through default settings without consumers' explicit consent.
Moreover, the developers should not use the word "free" if a game or app contains in-app purchases. The problems appeared when the kids go crazy buying game levels from within the apps and their parent get huge credit card bills.
In a statement sent to Engadget, Apple representatives believe their company has done "more than others" to protect parents.
"Apple takes great pride in leading the industry in parental controls that are incredibly easy to use and help ensure a great experience for parents and children on the App Store. The parental controls in iOS are strong, intuitive and customizable. And over the last year we made sure any app which enables customers to make in-app purchases is clearly marked. We've also created a Kids Section on the App Store with even stronger protections to cover apps designed for children younger than 13.
"These controls go far beyond the features of others in the industry. But we are always working to strengthen the protections we have in place, and we're adding great new features with iOS 8, such as Ask to Buy, giving parents even more control over what their kids can buy on the App Store", the Apple statement says.