Third-party ebook apps on iPhone and iPad have historically not let users make direct purchases. Google Play Books for iOS is now supporting Apple’s “reader” apps exception for providing external links to buy ebooks.
Previously, Google Play Books would not let you buy ebooks or audiobooks in the iOS application given App Store restrictions around Apple taking a cut of each in-app purchase. The iPhone and iPad app was just a viewer for purchases that happen outside the app (on the web).
Google is now taking advantage of one exception that Apple provides. Book listings in Play Books now feature a “Get book” button. After tapping, you’re taken to a “Finish getting your book” sheet that explains how you need to go to play.google.com/store/books/welcome.
This opens a system-level warning from the App Store about how “You’re about to leave the app and go to an external website. You will no longer be transacting with Apple: Any accounts or purchases made outside of this app will be managed by the developer “Google”. Your App Store account, stored payment method, and related features, such as subscription management and refund requests, will not be available. Apple is not responsible for the privacy or security of transactions made with this developer.”
That Play Store page you’re visiting is not the actual listing given an Apple restriction around essentially only being able to use one link. Instead, Google created a “Pick up where you left off” site that shows recent listings you’ve opened. You can select the book from there and then make the purchase with your Google Account.
This is rather cumbersome, but slightly better than the previous approach of users manually opening a browser, going to play.google.com, and searching for the book’s title. Google Play Books joins apps like Netflix (added July 2022) that follow this approach.
For many years, readers have been able to access Google Play Books using the iOS app, Android app or web reader, allowing them to buy and read ebooks and audiobooks across many different devices.
Now, we are making purchases easier in the Play Books iOS app by introducing the “Get book” button.
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