APPLE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES APP STORE SUBSCRIPTIONS

In a press release Apple announced that its App Store would make the subscription service available to all app publishers, just like it was on The Daily (the iPad only newspaper/magazine Rupert Murdoch just launched).

The service seems pretty simple from the buyer side–you download the app you want and then within the app you can sign up for a subscription. The publisher sets the price and length, and then you are automatically charged prior to each period. It’s just like a magazine subscription, though it should be a whole lot easier to cancel. Apple is giving customers a spot in their account page where they can manage subscriptions so you aren’t paying for anything you don’t want.

Interestingly, the release notes that “Publishers who use Apple’s subscription service in their app can also leverage other methods for acquiring digital subscribers outside of the app,” which means that publishers with existing businesses (think magazines and newspapers) can use their systems, they just need to get the publication in sync with their apps. Also, they won’t be able to offer any specials deals there that are not available in the app. So Apple is being somewhat flexible here, but they are not going to allow increased pricing when a publisher has to pay the rev share. [Geek]

NEWS CORP DAILY iPAD NEWSPAPER "THE DAILY" COST REVEALED

It’s looking like the digital publication could be available within the next two weeks according to News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch’s son, James Murdoch. The Daily was originally rumored to launch on January 19th but was later postponed due to a reported delay in the iTunes subscription feature that Apple has been preparing. Other rumors have also linked the delay to Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ medical leave, however, as he presumably would have appeared at the launch event. The Daily will cost subscribers $0.99 per week and will be iPad only at first.

RUMOR: GOOGLE TO UNITE PUBLISHERS AROUND ANDROID

The Wall Street Journal is reporting Google has approached Time Warner, Condé Nast and Hearst -- three of the biggest publishers of periodicals in the US -- with a view to offering their content through a Google-operated "digital newsstand" for Android devices. The appeal for media companies will be an easier route to monetizing their content, apparently, including the possibility that Google could take a smaller slice of revenues than the 30 percent charged by Apple and Amazon. There's also word of developments behind the scenes at Cupertino, where "several changes in iTunes" are expected to improve the publisher's experience of using the service, including making it easier to offer long-term subscriptions and related discounts.

RUMOR: APPLE AND NEWS CORP ANNOUNCING iPAD ONLY NEWSPAPER

It seems like Apple and News Corp are indeed in cahoots on The Daily, a new iPad-only newspaper that would be the first support the iTunes subscription billing, and rumor has it, it will be announced December 9. The 9th, the rumors state is a Thursday, so it's possible it will get pushed to the week after, perhaps arriving along with the Mac App Store. [Gizmodo]

NEWSPAPERS LOOKING TO GALAXY TABLET AND PLAYBOOK

When the iPad was announced one of it's biggest fans were the magazine and newspaper publishers.  They were looking to this new device to help save their dwindling subscriptions.  Now, they are looking at both the Samsung Galaxy tablet and RIM's Blackberry Playbook.  The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and USA Today are rumored to all be working on Galaxy apps while The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times are investigating the Playbook.

The New York Times on the Galaxy tablet is suppose to come pre-loaded on some carriers versions and be free until January of next year when The Times starts charging for its website [Engadget]

NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS COMING TO iPAD

According to The San Jose Mercury News, Apple is planning "a new subscription plan for newspapers" for iDevices to be launched soon.  The article does not state what iDevices are, but we can assume it means iPad, iPhone and possibly the iPod Touch.  The Mercury News does not cite any sources, but claims the subscription will have a similiar pay structure as the App Store where content providers get 60-70% of revenues.

The Mercury News goes on to say "The Cupertino company has agreed to provide an opt-in function for subscribers to allow Apple to share with publishers their information, which includes vital data that news organizations use to attract advertisers." [Boy Genius Report]