Readability On Its Way Back To The App Store - Hooray!

Today, we have more hope following the debacle surrounding Apple's new in-app subscription plan and Steve Jobs' response. Now, it looks like Apple might not impose their plan on many iOS apps and services, effectively killing them as many speculated. Recently, Apple revealed that they would allow publishers to implement recurring payments for their content in iOS, but they would take 30 percent of all the subscriptions that were started in-app. Apple took some heat for it, but it was nothing compared to the controversy they created by rejecting Readability, an app that would allow people to save articles for later (and allow them to donate a few bucks each month to the articles they liked the most). We speculated this might mean Apple will also apply their plan to all SaaS apps like Dropbox, and effectively cause them leave iOS. This was followed by an email, attributed to Steve Jobs, explaining this policy would only concern publishing apps. Yet, if Readability didn't make the cut, it wasn't clear where Apple drew the line between service apps, and publishing apps. A line they're making a little clearer now, as Readability just announced on Twitter that they're resubmitting their app to Apple. The App Store has had a checkered rejection history. There have been cases in the past where, following a large media outcry (or just an Apple error), Apple asked developers to resubmit an app. Sometimes Apple may have even changed or bent their rules a little. We're not absolutely sure what the case is this time around, but Readability announced they'll be writing a "Love letter to Apple." This probably means everything has been worked out, and the app will likely see the light of day very soon. What does this mean? At this point don't know. Apple could have reclassified Readability as a simple service, or perhaps they are changing their stance on the whole app subscription situation. Either way, this is great news and we'll keep you posted as the story develops. ***Update: We're getting reports that Readability might simply be attempting a sort of appeal by re-submitting their app, and Apple wouldn't have contacted them about it. We'll keep you posted.

Related articles