Apple Allows Developers To Bypass Apps Store

Apple will allow developers to insert functionality into iPhone and iPod Touch applications that lets users upgrade from the free (or “lite”) version of an iPhone App to the full, paid version without needing to route the purchase through the App Store.

This could potentially streamline Apple’s App Store by reducing the number of developers posting both free and paid versions of their applications. Apple, of course, will likely continue to take its same cut of developers’ revenue for the paid versions whether or not those paid versions are routed through the App Store.

Over 2 billion Apps have been downloaded from the App Store since its launch in July 2008. According to Apple, the App Store currently holds over 85,000 iPhone and iPod Touch Apps.

Apple’s success with mobile applications has led other competitors in the ecosystem, including Microsoft and Research In Motion, to create their own application stores. Microsoft attempted to have an ecosystem of 600 applications ready for download at the launch of Windows Mobile 6.5 on Oct. 6, but only managed to post roughly a third of that number before the mobile operating system’s release.

Apple is expected to announce sales numbers for the iPhone 3GS, which was launched in June, during its earnings call on Oct. 19. During its first three days of release, the smartphone sold around 3 million units.

On 9 Oct, Apple released an update for the iPhone and the iPod Touch, 3.1.2, which corrected a number of bugs that had been annoying users, including the notorious “coma mode,” in which the smartphone refused to awaken from sleep.

A 30 Sept report by AdMob stated that the iPhone OS’ share of the worldwide smartphone operating system market had grown to 40 percent in August, up from 33 percent in February.

Nicholas Kolakowski eWEEK USA 2013. Ziff Davis Enterprise Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Recent Posts

Apple, Google Mobile Ecosystems Should Be Investigated, CMA Told

CMA receives 'provisional recommendation' from independent inquiry that Apple,Google mobile ecosystem needs investigation

8 hours ago

Australia Rejects Elon Musk Claim About Social Media Ban For Under-16s

Government minister flatly rejects Elon Musk's “unsurprising” allegation that Australian government seeks control of Internet…

11 hours ago

Northvolt Files For Bankruptcy Protection In US

Northvolt files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States, and CEO and co-founder…

12 hours ago

UK’s CMA Readies Cloud Sector “Behavioural” Remedies – Report

Targetting AWS, Microsoft? British competition regulator soon to announce “behavioural” remedies for cloud sector

1 day ago

Former Policy Boss At X, Nick Pickles, Joins Sam Altman Venture

Move to Elon Musk rival. Former senior executive at X joins Sam Altman's venture formerly…

1 day ago

Bitcoin Rises Above $96,000 Amid Trump Optimism

Bitcoin price rises towards $100,000, amid investor optimism of friendlier US regulatory landscape under Donald…

1 day ago