Apple rejected the Sony Reader iOS app

Apple has officially blocked the Sony Reader application from the iOS App Store, a move that prevents Sony from offering its digital reading platform on iPhones and iPads. While Sony recently successfully launched an Android version of its e-book software, its plans for the Apple ecosystem have been derailed after months of delays. Originally scheduled for a late 2010 release, the app’s launch window was repeatedly pushed back, with sources indicating that Apple’s approval process was the primary bottleneck.

The rejection highlights a significant shift in Apple’s App Store policies regarding digital content sales. According to the New York Times and statements from Steve Haber, president of Sony’s digital reading division, Apple has altered its requirements for third-party developers. Apple is now insisting that applications no longer bypass its own payment system. Specifically, developers are being told they cannot sell items like e-books within an app or provide access to content purchased through external websites unless those purchases are also processed via Apple’s in-app payment architecture.

This policy change means Apple intends to take a commission on all digital content consumed within its mobile hardware environment. While many current e-book apps, such as Amazon’s Kindle, currently direct users to an external web browser to buy books—avoiding Apple’s 30% transaction fee—Sony’s rejection suggests that this workaround may no longer be viable. Apple reportedly clarified that any application offering access to external media must also provide a built-in purchase option that utilizes Apple’s billing system.

The industry is now watching closely to see how this will impact other major players. If Apple enforces these rules consistently, dominant competitors like Amazon could face a difficult choice: integrate Apple’s payment system and lose a portion of their revenue, or risk being removed from the App Store entirely. Commentators have noted that while smaller developers may have to comply, a confrontation with Amazon could alienate a large segment of iOS users who rely on the Kindle ecosystem. As of now, existing applications appear to have a grace period to adapt to these new mandates, but the long-term accessibility of third-party e-book stores on iOS remains uncertain.