We are happy to announce that effective today Tula Software will no longer make any applications available for download via Apple’s App Store. This includes the Tula Software application as well as any client ‘white-label’ applications. Note: All customers still on the white-label plans will have their Tula Software subscriptions updated accordingly.
At the end of last year we wrote about Apple’s decision to tax brick and mortar businesses bringing their businesses online, and how Tula Software customers were able to avoid paying this unnecessary 15% of their revenue fee to Apple. As well, we wrote about how Apple and Google’s app store policies are outdated, and that they end up requiring studios to break up their passes into on-line vs. in person, else risk Apple taking a 15% cut of even your in-person attendances.
Now that we have rolled out the ability for our customers to host in-person and on-line hybrid events, along with the corresponding ability for students to choose their preferred method of attending, now is the right time to do this.
To be abundantly clear: If we were to provide the functionality we just released on the native iOS applications, you would be required to pay 15% of your revenue to Apple.
We find the idea of Apple receiving 15% of your revenue to be absurd, and it is not something we will support or participate in.
Fortunately, none of our customers need Apple to sell their classes, and none of their students need apple to register for and attend their classes, thanks to the ongoing magical powers of the open web.
As you know by now, Tula customers are able to host our website integration widgets on your own domain and every studio comes with a mobile app site (formerly called student urls) that mimics all the functionality of the apps, but in the browser, which also lives on your own domain.
We have a ton of exciting plans for the future on both the student side and admin side of things as we focus all of our development efforts on the browser this point forward.
To all of our customers who have written such kind emails to us over the past few weeks about our updates, we can’t tell you enough how much we appreciate you!