Google Follows Apple's Lead with Subscription Program 'One Pass'

Following Apple's lead, Google (News - Alert) announced One Pass, an initiative that will allow publishers to charge for subscription-based access to digital media.

With Google’s new subscription service One Pass, publishers can sell subscriptions at any length with auto-renewal, including day passes or any other duration of time. It seems only right for Google to make a huge push into the publisher market considering it has such a huge platform in Android (News - Alert). Implementing One Pass is good business because like Apple, smartphones and tablets alike are all at Google’s disposal.

In a shroud move to cut into Apple’s (News - Alert) market with publishers, Google indicated on its site that it will only take 10 percent of revenues from publishers. Unlike Apple which charges a 30 percent monthly commission on revenues generated from subscription services.

In related news, TMCnet reportedApple’s announcement on its new subscription service available to all publishers of content-based apps on the App Store, including magazines, newspapers, video, music, etc. This is the same innovative digital subscription billing service that Apple recently launched with News Corp’s (News - Alert) “The Daily” app.

Apple is trend-setting the way to subscription based services for publishers representing every type of media related industry.

How will Apple’s subscription based system work?

Well, subscriptions purchased from within the App Store will be sold using the same App Store billing system that has been used to buy billions of apps and In-App Purchases. When it comes to pricing, publishers set the price and length of subscription (weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-yearly or yearly).

Customers will be able to decide the length of their subscription all with one click and manage all of their subscriptions via their personal account page, including canceling the automatic renewal of a subscription.

With processing payments, Apple plans to stay true to its charge 30 percent for everything motto when it comes to In-App purchases.