New subscription policy doesn't apply to Software as a Service - Sent from Steve Jobs' iPhone

A MacRumors reader emailed Steve Jobs about recent fears that Apple's new App Store subscription policy would hurt Software as a Service (SaaS) apps, and Jobs' purported response is -- no it won't.

The question:

As a full time iOS developer, I am concerned (and confused) withe the new App Store guideline regarding "Apps offering subscriptions" (section 11.12).

Most of the iOS apps I have developed, as a contractor for other businesses, have been free apps that had login screens to allow the user access to some amount of private data. and/or service. These businesses have all been well established companies that sell some kind of service to their customers (Software As a Service companies) and the iOS app was merely another "portal" for their users to access their data/services (in many times, in a limited i.e. "mobile" fashion).... for example; SalesForce. I am concerned that most of these businesses will choose to not develop an iOS app for their customers if the IAP & subscription policy was in place.

Would these type's of free apps be still be allowed in the App Store or will they now be expected to use IAP?

The Steve Jobs response:

We created subscriptions for publishing apps, not SaaS apps.

Sent from my iPhone

Apple has been typically tight lipped about what does and does not qualify as subscription so the confusion is understandable but is a Steve Jobs email enough to clarify?