Google has introduced a new subscription service aimed at allowing publishers to offer their content to people on a wide range of devices.
The new service called Google One Pass allows publishers to control how and when they charge for content. Users who buy One Pass can access content on tablets, smartphones and websites using a single sign-in with an email and password.
The move by Google puts it in direct competition with Apple’s subscription service announced yesterday. With Google One Pass, Google will get 10 percent of revenues, compared to Apple’s 30 percent for its subscriptions.
Google says it launched One Pass because it “cares a lot about helping high quality content thrive online and about the future of journalism.”
Initial publishers participating in One Pass include German companies Axel Springer AG, Focus Online and Stern.de. Other publishers include Media General, NouvelObs, Popular Science, Prisa and Rust Communications.
Google One Pass is currently available for publishers in Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K. and the U.S.