Amazon-owned ComiXology has rolled out an update to its iOS and Android mobile apps with major changes to the shopping and payment methods.
ComiXology, Amazon-owned marketplace for digital comics, is making significant changes to its mobile apps on Android and iOS platforms, which involves payment-related modifications. Following the change, Apple users of the Comics app will no longer be able to make in-app purchases and Android users of the app must register a credit card or setup a PayPal account with ComiXology to make purchases.
The changes to the mobile apps offered by ComiXology come just two weeks after Amazon acquired the digital comic store. Amazon retired the existing iOS app in favor of the new one that no longer extends its share of profits to Apple. With the in-app purchases gone on the new iOS Comics app, Amazon is preventing Apple from collecting its standard 30 percent of each purchase, a move that has been in place since 2011. Customers can now purchase comics from thecompany's official website, which will then be synced with the app under the "In Cloud" tab.
As for Android users, the retail giant is restoring the in-app purchase system in its refreshed app version 3.6 but with a change in payment system. The Google Wallet payment system will no longer be a part of the Comics app and customers will be asked to register a credit card or set up a PayPal account with ComiXology to process payments.
The new changes will take a long route to get what a user wants. To compensate, ComiXology is offering a gift promo for those who upgrade to the latest version of the iOS and AndroidComics apps.
"Last, but not least, to thank our loyal customers and ease this transition, we are offering a $5 eGift Card credit to all those who have purchased through the comiXology platform in the past," the company said in an official blog post. "This credit will be automatically applied throughout the day to those accounts who are eligible and all of those eligible have 30 days to purchase books with that credit. Enjoy."
International users of the app trying to take advantage of the $5 eGift Card can redeem the credit on the official website from PC or tablet or change the location from the U.S. to the local country at the lower right side of the homepage. The card expires May 25, so users must redeem it fully or in installment before the deadline.
