Apple Allows In-App Purchases in Free iPhone Apps
Posted in: Apple, developers, iPhone, Phones, Software, Today's Chili
iPhone owners can now purchase extra content through free iPhone apps, whereas before in-app purchasing was only available in apps that cost money.
Apple on Thursday sent e-mails to developers stating in-app purchases are now permitted in free apps.
“In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps,” Apple wrote in the letter. “Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services.”
Some examples of what this means: You can download a free game, and after you complete the levels, you can decide to buy more levels within the app. Or you could download a free news content app, and if you liked what you read, you can opt to pay for some exclusive premium content.
We’re surprised in-app purchases weren’t allowed in free apps in the first place. In September, Wired.com reported on a digital literary magazine called Scarab. The app cost $1, and then users are required to pay $3 per magazine issue. The problem? After paying the initial $1 for the app, it came with zero content; customers must shell out $3 for an issue without even getting to do anything with the app.
We felt Scarab should have been a free app so iPhone users could try out the interface and then decide whether they wished to purchase an issue. However, Apple did not allow in-app purchases through free apps, so the developers had to charge $1 for the app (even though they admitted to Wired.com they didn’t want to).
Apple’s change Thursday should come as good news for app developers. Offering apps for free should prove an effective marketing method to lure people into paying for more content eventually. This is the the “freemium” model, as Wired magazine’s Chris Anderson would describe it: The general idea is you get customers used to the service provided for free, so they’ll keep wanting more and eventually pay for the goods.
Will the App Store see a lot of paid apps that were offering in-app purchases convert into free apps? We’re willing to bet that’s going to happen.
See Also:
- Free! Why $0.00 Is the Future of Business
- Wired Editor-in-Chief Chris Anderson on the Future of Free …
- iPhone Rhythm Game Tap Tap Revenge 3 Strutting Into App Store Soon …
Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
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