Prepare Giveaway World, App Store Promo Codes Go International

In what must have seemed like an eternity for anyone located outside of the United States, Apple finally allows promotional codes to be used in any App Store worldwide. I can just hear the cheers and grumbles of "why did it take so long?" I can't answer that question because I honestly have no idea. The iTunes Connect web site, which is only available to subscribed iOS Developer Program members, had this new feature highlighted.

Your promo code distribution is no longer limited to U.S. customers. Promo codes in iTunes Connect can now be redeemed by all App Store customers worldwide. Your Team Agent can request 50 codes per version of your app in iTunes Connect and your customers can redeem these codes in any App Store. To learn more about requesting promo codes in iTunes Connect, see the iTunes Connect Developer Guide.

We have heard that this policy only includes promo codes generated today and thereafter. Why does this matter? If a developer already requested some codes for an upcoming giveaway or press release, these codes will still only work using a U.S. iTunes account. Codes last up to four weeks, therefore, some developers may be waiting until their next update to have worldwide giveaways, etc. In similar news, there are hints that the Mac App Store may not allow gifting of apps quite as easily. Located in the Requesting Promo Code section (page 137) of the iTunes Connect Developer Guide is a small blurb about promo codes unable to be generated for Mac OS X apps.

Promotional codes are not available for Mac OS X apps

The guide is version 6.2, dated November 1, 2010. That is 10 days after the Mac App Store was announced. Does this mean an absolute? Of course not, but not too surprising with Apple's already strict Mac App Store guidelines. This may have already been a given, seeing as it's much easier to install an application on Mac OS X, likely even those offered via the Mac App Store. For our iDevices, we need iTunes or an app already on our iDevices to install software. While Mac OS X has a universal Installer app, it isn't required at all, just offered to developers as a convenience. Despite no likely need for promo codes, the system worked so well for giveaways, and it may be missed when trying to promote an OS X app. As a specific note to our readers, you should begin to see our app giveaways becoming available to everyone, and not just U.S. iTunes account holders. Tell us what you think about all of this in the comments. [via 9 to 5 Mac]

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