Offline Purchases & Downloads Coming Soon To iOS?
July 21, 2011
Apple could one day give users the ability to buy and then use apps without actually being online. This concept, first uncovered by 9 To 5 Mac, is detailed in a new Apple patent.
In order to currently make an app or music purchase from an iPhone/iPod touch or iPad, you must be connected to the Internet. This requirement, which is pretty obvious, serves two purposes.
First, Apple needs to charge you for the purchase. Second, an Internet connection is necessary to download the item.
However, Apple might someday rely on a system whereas users can buy credits that are stored on their iDevice to make offline purchases.
To do so, the user would simply use one of the credits. These credits would be used so credit card security isn't issue. Then, the next time your iDevice is online, iTunes would sync your account, taking into account all offline purchases.
Of course, that still doesn’t mean you can actually download the item that was bought offline.
But, Apple has that covered too.
According to 9 To 5 Mac, the new system would locally cache media items not yet owned by the user and restrict access until they are purchased, either online or offline.
They state:
The entire App Store catalog with meta data could be cached, Apple explains, allowing you to browse and discover apps while offline. Furthermore, “one or more recommended media items” could be cached so you could in theory buy those items and immediately begin enjoying them without a network connection. Items bought offline but not cached on the device could be transferred to the user’s media library “at any suitable time.”Interesting concept, don’t you think? Let us know by using the comments below.