Apple facing antitrust probe over App Store policies

The United States Justice Department is reportedly preparing to launch an investigation into Apple over its App Store policies that require many app makers to use the company’s payment system. Government lawyers have been meeting with developers for the last several months, and according to US news website Politico, they met with them last week to ask questions about Apple's subscription rules. Developers say Apple unfairly ties access to its App Store with its in-app payment system, which takes a 30 per cent cut of most transactions. Bloomberg reported that at least one developer was asked if Apple lowering its 30 per cent cut would solve its concerns, but the person said the problem is less the commission and more that Apple doesn’t allow an alternate payment system. The US investigation into Apple's ‌App Store ‌practices is described as “serious”, but the inquiry is ongoing and no decisions have been made.