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Financial Times

Even if you’re not a frequent reader of the Financial Times, you should care about its app if you are the slightest interested in the future of media. As we reported in July, the newspaper decided to dodge Apple’s 30% cut on in-app subscription plans by offering a paid-for web app.

It seems it wasn’t such a bad idea: according to the newspaper, its browser-based HTML5 app has registered over one million users since its launch.

Does it mean grass is greener outside of Apple’s walled garden? Not having to hand over 30% of their revenues is certainly appealing for publishers and newspapers, but there’s more than that, as many also worry about the limited access they’d get to subscribers’ data if the whole process is managed by Apple within its own environment.

In this context, newspaper web apps are highly likely to mushroom over the next months. Will smaller publications be as successful when deciding to follow the FT’s lead? Only time will tell, but this showdown between Apple and the press will definitely be one of 2012’s top stories to watch.

➤  Financial Times