Amazon today launched Kindle Cloud Reader – a web based Kindle reader that runs on iPad without the need for an iPad app. Because Kindle Cloud Reader is purely a web based application, it sidesteps Apple’s excessive 30% commission on eBook related purchases.
Last month Amazon updated their iPhone app and removed a link to the Kindle Store in order to comply with Apple’s guidelines and therefore avoided the boot from the App Store. Google Books received a similar threat, didn’t comply, received their walking papers, promptly updated their app, and are now reinstated in the App Store.
It’s a constant battle between Apple and third parties with no constraint. Big player third parties like Google & Amazon don’t want to part with 30% of their revenues and feed Apple. The loophole, it seems, is to launch web apps for iOS rather than iOS apps.
VUDU, a video-on-demand service owned by Walmart, also introduced a web based solution to circumvent Apple’s 30% commission. VUDU today launched an optimized web app for iPad that lets users stream movies over HTML but does not cater for HD streaming.