Financial Times app yanked from Apple's App Store

by Steven Mostyn - Sep 1 2011, 04:23

Samsung, Motorola, and now The Financial Times (FT). Seems like Apple Inc. is looking to pick a fight with everyone these days.

However, while Cupertino’s ongoing battles with rival device makers are unfolding in the courts and revolve around accusations of patent infringement, its beef with the UK broadsheet centres on customer data.

Specifically, The Financial Times has yanked its news application from the App Store after Apple recently began insisting that all app subscriptions be placed directly through its online store—thereby granting it control of all accompanying user data.

Reports also suggest the respected British business publication was similarly unwilling to shoulder a 30 percent reduction in associated app revenue introduced by Apple.

The decision to remove the official FT app comes despite both parties being immersed in hopeful discussions for a number of months.

Although the FT app is no longer available through Apple’s online store, owners of the iPad and iPhone will still be able to purchase and download it via the paper’s official browser-based web application.

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