In a move that comes seemingly out of nowhere, Apple has decided to allow developers to add in-app purchases to their free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services. This should effectively eliminate the need to create Lite versions of apps because users will now be able to simply download one version as a demo and unlock the additional features via an in-app purchase in that same app.
Below is a copy of the email Apple sent to all developers:
In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps. Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services.
You can also simplify your development by creating a single version of your app that uses In App Purchase to unlock additional functionality, eliminating the need to create Lite versions of your app. Using In App Purchase in your app can also help combat some of the problems of software piracy by allowing you to verify In App Purchases.
Visit the App Store Resource Center for more details about how you can add In App Purchases to your free apps.
If you are a developer who would like to add in-app purchases to a free app, just make sure you have agreed to the latest iPhone Developer Program License Agreement, have a paid applications contract, and have provided Apple with tax and banking information. If you have already accomplished all of that, you are set to go.
This is a pretty interesting move by Apple and one that may just pay off pretty well for developers. What do you think about this new development?
[Thanks to Ian Marsh for the tip!]
Great. I’ve always felt that they had it backwards. Personally I would rather get duped into downloading a free app that requires additional purchases to make it useful than being duped into paying for an app that requires additional purchases to make it useful.
Touché.
So this means that when searching, you’ll see a list of similar apps but not be able to compare the true cost without viewing the description of each one? Could get annoying.
The app store should have a list of in app purchases for that app with prices so you know how much the app is really worth.
Actually, the App Store does. Usually near the bottom of the description there will be a section titled “Top In App Purchases.” This displays, of course, the top in-app purchases and their corresponding prices.