- Amazon to launch subscription-based book service? Amazon is reportedly in talks with publishers to launch a subscription-based book service, similar to video-streaming service Netflix in the Americas, according to the Wall Street Journal. Amazon would offer nearly unlimited access to its digital library of books for a fixed monthly fee - an offer that would surely delight most bookworms.
- UK’s Telegraph may introduce paywall this September The Telegraph will reportedly announce a new online paywall strategy as early as next month, with full implementation by September of this year, according to Marketing Magazine. By doing so, it will join other similar publications, including The Times and Sunday Times, and The News of the World, who have all adapted such strategies last year with moderate success.
- Google announces new payment and access control system for digital publishers Not to be outdone by Apple’s new subscription service introduced yesterday, Google have today announced One Pass - a system for digital publishers that controls “user authentication, payment processing, and administration” of digital content.
- Apple App Store introduces long-awaited subscription service Apple have today announced the introduction of a long-awaited in-app subscription service available to content-based apps in the App Store. With the new service Apple receives a 30% share of new app subscriptions, but interestingly, when a publisher brings an existing or new subscriber to the app, the publisher retains 100% of earnings.
- The Guardian releases updated subscription-based iPhone app The Guardian have today released an updated version of their iPhone app that now employs a subscription-based model instead of a one-off fee.
- Apple delays The Daily launch by “weeks” Apple and News Corporation have delayed the launch of The Daily, an iPad-only publication, that was reported to be unveiled later this month on January 19th. Now, it is believed that this launch date will be delayed, but only by “weeks, not months".