By Twitter Inc. plans to change the pricing of its Twitter Blue subscription product to $11, from $7.99, if paid for through its iPhone app and to $7 if paid for on the website, the Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person briefed on the plans.
The change was likely in response to Apple Inc.’s 30% cut on any payments made by users via applications on the iOS operating system.
The reduced cost on the website was also expected to draw more customers to that platform rather than signing up on their iPhones.
It was not stated whether or not the pricing will change on the Android platform as well.
Musk, who purchased Twitter in October, intends to roll out the microblogging site’s verified service with different coloured checks for individuals, businesses, and governments, following a botched initial launch that increased users impersonating celebrities and brands on the platform.
A request for comment was not immediately responded to by Twitter, Apple, or Google, which controls the Android operating system.
Musk highlighted many issues with Apple in a series of tweets last week, including the 30% fee the iPhone manufacturer charges software developers for in-app sales.
He also shared a joke in which he stated that he was prepared to “go to war” with Apple rather than pay the fee.
Musk then met with Apple CEO Tim Cook at the company’s headquarters and tweeted that the misunderstanding over Twitter being removed from Apple’s app store had been rectified.
