Comments on: Will You Pay $10 for an iPhone App?

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:03:34 +0000

Prices for the WinMo platform have been very steep I must admit. Seems odd to think how much we paid for apps on that platform. I agree that marketing is a critical area as well.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:57:07 +0000

Wow – surprised to hear that. I don't think I'd pay that much for any single news source.

By: whydidnt

whydidnt — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 13:23:56 +0000

I think the situation is as it should be with the market dictating how much a developer can charge. Don't forget that the App Store is delivering unprecedented volumes of sales to many successful developers. Many are making up any lost revenue in volume.

I have thought that Mobile applications have been over priced, with many rivaling desktop application pricing, despite being far less complex. This has been particularly true with Window Mobile Applications. With Apple finally handling distribution, and giving developers a fair cut of the sales, developers realize they can make a lot of money even when charging less than $5.00 per application.

The biggest issue developers need to address is marketing. Many think all they need to do is put their app in the app store and people will find it. Those that really want to succeed need to find new ways to reach those of us with an iPhone, so we know about their work.

By: MBA

MBA — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 05:41:28 +0000

I'll totally buy one if it comes with a subscription to content. E.g. I would pay $50+ for the NYTimes app.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:53:17 +0000

I agree with your first couple points, mostly. Of course not all apps appeal to a wide audience, and each of us has our priorities and preferences. On the idea that many buyers are 12 and 13 year olds – that may be true, and likely some of them will use less 'serious' apps – but I wouldn't class them all that way too quickly – hell, there are 12 year olds out there developing apps.

I would like to see something like smart playlists or a Genius type feature in the store. And I would love to have a way to banish the one trick pony apps from my line of sight, for sure. In fact, though I'm not sure it's at all feasible, I'd like to see a 'Novelty' section established and have a lot of harmless / useless stuff moved to that section.

By: Rich

Rich — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 03:18:33 +0000

What everyone seems to miss in all of this talk over app store pricing is not every app is an app that everyone is going to want. Take Jaadu VNC for example, very high cost app, took me a while to decide (had to see some sound reviews on if first) once I did though, it's been worth every penny, but to my point the number of people that are going to need this app (or even want it) is going to be significantly less that the number who will buy "doom" (or whatever) THe other point (seems obvious to me) people miss is, many "buyers" of apps are all of about 12 or 13 (hence the massive number of fart apps) and would be on the less sophisticated end of the spectrum and not likley to buy many serious apps.

All this "hand wringing" and "gnashing of teeth" over app store pricing gets tiresome. The market will eventually sort itself out. Unfortunately for some devs/companies it may take longer than they can survive.

That said, Apple really needs to get off their duff and implement something like "smart playlists" for the app store so we can have a remote chance of seeing the wheat in all the chaf. Fawd I'd kill for the ability to screen out all those devs who produce 25, 50, 100 or more one trick pony apps (call dad, call mom, call for some kind of freaking relief from retard developers without a clue!!!!)

Please Apple, give us some serious tools to mine the app store. Now!!!

Rich

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:56:56 +0000

I've probably made the most mistakes at the lower purchase points as well. And I completely agree that there are some amazing free apps out there.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:55:33 +0000

I believe the market will continue to grow as well – but do think some of the fears about quality of apps are legitimate concerns, given the quotes in that post from some heavy hitters in the apps development arena.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:53:32 +0000

I hope they're going to address that soon – seems such a big, obvious one.

By: Patrick Stevens

Patrick Stevens — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:24:11 +0000

I too have paid $5 to $10 for a couple of apps. I've regretted a couple of purchases, but probably far more of the $.99 versions. I think that a trial period would allow more sales of these apps. You have to really think about the $10 app and as Diego said its hard buying apps 'blind'. All in all though I have no problem buying the higher priced app if I think I'll use it. I am just going to really take a look and see if anyone else I know has it and if they like it. Some of the best apps though I have say are ones that were free. Its just amazing that someone would take the time to develop an app and then give it away…kudos to them.

By: Diego Petrucci

Diego Petrucci — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:42:20 +0000

Yeah, that's the problem. I know i could use lite version, but they are, uhm, lite. Usually there aren't some of the feature you want to try out, so you have to use cracked versions. I'm a student, i'm eighteen, i can't afford buying apps in this "blind" way.

By: HUTCH

HUTCH — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:38:19 +0000

Pfff… let the market decide. If you want to generate revenue and a $10 price point isn't moving, your choices are to sell less apps, or lower the price. Either a developer wants a piece of the sweet market growth, or they don't. Either way, the market will continue to expand.

By: patrickj

patrickj — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 00:02:42 +0000

@ Sean, J, Ra'ed, Lesley, Diego – glad to see there are at least a few of us who are still willing to pay $10 and more when an app's quality and usefulness merits it. Diego – I have to say I'm against cracked apps, but if you are genuinely using them in place of a trial well then … all the more need for the App Store to start offering trial versions. Ridiculous that they haven't managed that yet.

By: Diego Petrucci

Diego Petrucci — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:57:06 +0000

Usually, i try an app using a cracked version, then (if it satisfied me) i buy it. I think i've spent more than 50€ on appstore. So far the most expensive app i've bought is beeijive, at 13€.

So yeah, i'd buy a 10 bucks app if it's worth

By: Lesley

Lesley — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:38:28 +0000

I've also paid $10 for certain apps. Phrasebooks and the StandAlone Crossword app come to mind. I would also pay $10 for a good productivity app, if it let me edit and sync documents, and I knew it was good. Don't need to pay for a to-do app via the iTunes store, as I use RTM and pay them an annual fee for their Pro service. But I would pay via iTunes for a good to-do app otherwise.

Part of what makes me reluctant to buy more of the higher-priced apps is the lack of ability to test them first. I agree with appcubby's point about trial periods. I don't want to spend too much on an app that I'm only relying on user ratings for. If I could have a trial period, I'd be more likely to pay a higher price.

By: Ra'ed

Ra'ed — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:36:50 +0000

I have paid $9.99 for many apps. Some were good like NFS underground, IM+ and Doom. Some were really horrible like offmaps and few others that I have deleted the same day :s. A trail period would a very good idea.

By: J Christopher Doss

J Christopher Doss — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 21:12:53 +0000

I have paid $44 for an app, with 2 $20 add ons. even though the app store is riddled with $.99 apps there is nothing wrong with paying $10, $20, or even $30 if the perceived value of the app is there. Pricing is a developers prerogative. They are not forced to charge less because others do. They get to antsy for the quick sale instead of just knowing the quality of their product will bring buyers over time. That said…
I typically won't pay $10 for a game. I go through them to quick. $4.99 is the max and even that is a stretch. So I guess ultimately genre is an important factor in the decision.

By: Sean G

Sean G — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:38:14 +0000

Sure I would pay $10 for an app, I have bought a couple of them. Mostly they have been productivity apps like PocketInformant, Things, etc. When it comes to games though, I look for a lite version to help me decided whether it is worth it or not. No lite version, then I just skip over the game no matter how it is rated and raved about.