A WIN FOR APPS IN ARIZONA

An Arizona bill that would allow app developers to bypass fees from the Apple and Google stores advanced Wednesday in the state House.

The bill, introduced by Republican state Rep. Regina Cobb, passed in a tight 31-29 vote.

The bill would bar the app stores from requiring in-app payment as the only mode of accepting payment from users.

Google and Apple’s terms allow the companies to collect 15 to 30 percent of app revenue. If the bill were to pass in the Senate and be signed into law by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) it could greatly impact the tech giants’ ability to collect funds from in-app purchases and sales.

Apple had pushed back on the bill, with the company’s chief compliance officer Kyle Andeer testifying at a state House hearing that the bill would serve as “a government mandate that Apple give away the App Store.”