Afeature called Newsstand is set to arrive with iOS 5 this autumn - a new way to discover and browse newspapers and r magazines on your iOS devices. It will behave more like an iOS folder than an app, while its appearance is similar to the iBookstore's. Magazine and newspaper subscriptions will be displayed on a bookshelf, and be automatically updated whenever a new edition when is released.
This is great news for publishers, because it will give them a dedicated space within iTunes, and makes the subscription process for customers much simpler. But with Apple charging a 30 per cent cut, it remains to be seen how many publishers will sign up for this service.
Since the announcement of Newsstand, Apple has quietly altered its policy on in-app subscriptions. Section 11.13 of Apple's App Store review guidelines, which were set to come into effect for all App Store publishers by 30 June, stated that app owners could offer in-app subscriptions if the price was the same or lower than those offered outside the app. Apple has, however, had a change of heart and changed this policy. In-app pricing restrictions have now been lifted, but there must not be a direct link to external subscription pages within the app.
Essentially, this means that app owners can get around the 30 percent cut by making them more expensive than the subscriptions outside of the app. This may encourage publishers to sign up for the service, but it may not fair so well for the subscribers.
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