Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple, iPhone, App Store
Developers whose apps meet the criteria for a 17+ rating in the
App Store are now running into yet another roadblock, but this time it's not about getting their apps approved, it's about distributing them. Or, more specifically, distributing promo codes for them.
Typically, when a developer uploads a new version of an application to the App Store, they have the
ability to create up to 50 promo codes, which they can then provide to media outlets for reviewing the application, give away to users in a contest, etc. Aside from some reasonable restrictions on their usage (you can't sell them, they expire after 28 days and are one-time use only), promo codes provide quite a bit of flexibility to developers of paid apps who wish to freely distribute their app to select individuals without having to worry about the hassles of exchanging device information and doing special
ad-hoc builds.
So where is the problem? It's in the new
app rating system that was
released a few weeks ago. As it stands, neither the 3.0 software nor iTunes display parental warnings when using a promo code to purchase apps with a mature (17+) rating, so Apple has made the promo code functionality unavailable for apps that fall into that category. We were informed of this condition by a developer who prefers to remain anonymous.
This obviously puts developers of these apps in a bit of a bind, as well as eliminates the potential amount of sales that could come from being able to distribute promo copies. Developers in this position may be stuck doing ad-hoc builds or going back to the questionable practice of sending iTunes gift cards to reviewers.
And if you're thinking this just applies to the
massive number of adult-oriented apps that have recently poured into the App Store, you're wrong. Apple specifies that any application that may contain high levels of offensive language, violence, sexual content, or references to drugs or alcohol receive a rating of 17+. But, according to Apple, apps that feature an embedded web browser or provide access to 3rd party content also automatically require the 17+ rating, regardless of the application's content or intended audience.
Here's hoping that Apple is already working on a solution to this, as the lost potential sales caused by this not only affect the developers of the individual apps, but the overall success of the App Store as well.
App Store Lessons: No promo codes for apps rated 17+ originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
App Store Lessons: No promo codes for apps rated 17+ originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
There are a lot of ways to get ringtones on an iPhone. Some are easy. Some not so easy. Some are free. Some cost money.