News

Apple enables free apps to charge for micro-transactions

Freemium business model finally comes to App Store

Apple enables free apps to charge for micro-transactions
When Apple announced developers could charge for in-app micro-transactions for virtual items, it limited the system to paid apps.

Now however it’s removed this restriction, allowing developers to release free games and make their money using micro-transactions, which is the standard model with massively successful online games such as RuneScape, as well as Facebook and MySpace games like Mobsters and Farmville.

As part of this switch, Apple has also relaxed the limitations for Lite or free versions of paid apps.

Now developers can create one free app in which additional paid functionality is unlocked by micro-transactions, easing the development process, which up to this point has required them to submit separate paid and free apps.

Apple also pointed out in its note to developers that using in-app purchases can help them combat piracy as it forces users to access new content via App Store transactions.

Contributing Editor

A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.