Google has now been granted permission to sell e-books and audiobooks directly to buyers via its iOS app, Google Play Books. Making the announcement on the company blog post, Google said users will henceforth be able to complete a book purchase by clicking on the ‘Get Book’ option associated with a book in the Google Play Books iOS app.

Users will then be redirected to the Google Play website where they get to complete the purchase using their Google Account and saved payment method. With the payment getting processed on its own site, Google isn’t required to pay the around 30 percent cut that Apple charges on any in-app purchases made on the iOS app.

All of this is in compliance with the External Link Account Entitlement that Apple first introduced in 2022 as per an agreement reached with the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC). Any company willing to use the entitlement is required to have Apple’s approval for the same besides also following other guidelines as well. That includes specifying the particular site that needs to be displayed when an external link is clicked and so on.

The rule also makes it mandatory to show a full-screen announcement that lets users know that they aren’t transacting with Apple after they have clicked the external link. The entitlement is primarily targeted at reader apps which should include those that allow readers access to content such as books, magazines, audiobooks, music, video, and such.

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