Google starts up newspaper subscription service to rival Apple's

Google has launched a digital newspaper and magazine subscription service less than a day after rival Apple. Eric Schmidt, chief executive of the web search giant, yesterday said Google would take 10per cent of the cash collected via its One Pass digital newsagent service, with 90per cent going to publishers. Apple's system will see it take a 30per cent cut from subscriptions bought through iPad and iPhone apps.
Google will also provide publishers with the names and email addresses of readers, while Apple has refused to share customers' details. Schmidt said Google would not profit from the service, and explained that the company's 10per cent cut was to cover costs. The service is available now in the UK, the US, Canada, France, Spain, and Germany. It is available via tablet devices, smartphones and PCs. Google said publishers can charge readers as much or as little as they like and offer single issue purchases to long subscriptions.