Google unveils One Pass system for online content Published duration 16 February 2011

image caption Google says the 10% charge will allow publishers to customise how and when they charge for content

Google has launched a new payment system that allows users to subscribe to online content for a 10% commission fee.

The move comes after rival Apple was criticised over its payment system which takes 30% of the sale price.

One Pass will work on tablets and smartphones, as well as Google-related websites.

One Pass will launch initially in the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

The announcement came just one day after Apple announced new rules for publishers selling subscriptions on its iOS platform.

Apple says companies must now offer users the option to buy directly through an iTunes account, handing 30% of the price to Apple.

Previously, vendors were allowed to simply direct customers to an external website, keeping all of the profits.

On a Google blog posting, Lee Shirani, the company's director of business product management wrote: "Publishers can customise how and when they charge for content while experimenting with different models to see what works best for them."