New York Post criticized for blocking Safari access on Apple's iPad

According to the Apple Insider observation, The New York Post has setup a new pay-wall targeting mobile Safari users on Apple's iPad and directing them to download the publication's app through the App Store.

In simple, the content on nypost.com is no longer available to iPad users; unless they are using the publication's official App Store app.

Mobile Safari users on Apple’s iPad who are visiting the nypost.com site land on a page directing readers to wither download the official app to view the content, in case they are existing subscribers or to subscribe if they are not.

Before rolling out this barring arrangement, those visiting nypost from their iPads were shown an interstitial ad promoting the app before allowing users to continue on to the website.

Links from The NY Post's official Facebook page visited also follow the ‘new selectively barring’ arrangement. Notably, the website is still available for other iPad browsers, such as Skyfire or Opera Mini.

The Subscriptions through the app cost $6.99 per month, $39.99 for six months or $79.99 for the year, with no option for single-issue digital purchases.

Earlier reluctant to do so, Apple unveiled the in-app subscriptions feature for iOS earlier this year; but still with major restriction, which required in-app prices to be same or less than those offered outside the app. Bowing down to the criticism which ensued, Apple backed down on a rule Last week .

Some experts have criticized NY Post for rolling out such a selectively restrictive arrangement; some even terming ‘it opposed the spirit of Web’. But apart from being the way nypost applied the in-app subscription thing; the world appears to be coming to terms the whole idea od in-app purchases.

Since its launch, when the in-app price restriction were still on, many esteemed publishers and publications have offered in-app subscriptions; namely Bloomberg Businessweek, Condé Nast (The New Yorker, Wired and GQ). Others are following the flag-bearers, with Hearst planning in-app subscriptions for three of its magazines -- Esquire, Popular Mechanics, and O, The Oprah Magazine -- beginning by July. --------

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