Twitter plans to change the pricing of its Twitter Blue subscription product to $11, from $7.99 if paid for through its iPhone app, to $7 if paid for on the website, the Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person briefed on the plans.
The move was likely a pushback against Apple’s 30% cut on any payments made by users via apps on the iOS operating system, the report said.
The report said that lower pricing on the website was also likely to drive more users to that platform instead of signing up on their iPhones. However, it did not mention whether pricing would also change for the Android platform.
Musk, who took ownership of Twitter in October, is planning to roll out the micro-blogging site’s verified service with different coloured checks for individuals, companies and governments, after a botched initial launch led to a surge in users impersonating celebrities and brands on the platform.
Twitter, Apple and Google, which owns the Android operating system, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a series of tweets last week, Musk listed various grievances with Apple, including the 30% fee the iPhone maker charges software developers for in-app purchases.
He also posted a meme suggesting he would “go to war” with Apple rather than pay the commission. read more
Musk later met Apple chief executive Tim Cook at the company’s headquarters and later tweeted that the misunderstanding about Twitter being removed from Apple’s app store was resolved. (Reuters)
