Apple raises the prices of apps for iOSThe price of digital magazines also increasesThe rise has been a surprise for everyone
Friday October 26, 2012 will be remembered by many users as the day chosen by Apple to raise the price of apps which can be purchased at your app store. And it is that only a few days after the presentation of the iPad mini, in which Tim Cook (or Phill Schiller?) boasted of the millions of app downloads that users of iOS deviceshave decided to make that business even more profitable, rising suddenly and totally unexpectedly by both users and developers, the App Store price tiers. These are the uploads:
- From €0.79 to €0.89, increase of €0.10 (increase of 11.26%).
- From €1.59 to €1.79, increase of €0.20 (increase of 11.25%).
- From €2.39 to €2.69, increase of €0.30 (increase of 11.25%).
- From €2.99 to €3.59, increase €0.50 (increase of 12.00%).
- From €3.99 to €4.49, increase in €0.50 (increase of 11.25%).
- From €4.99 to €5.49, increase in €0.50 (increase of 11.00%).
- From €5.49 to €5.99, increase €0.50 (increase of 10.91%).
- From €6.99 to €7.99, increase €1.00 (increase of 11.43%).
- From €7.99 to €8.99, up €1.00 (increase of 11.25%).
As you can see, the price increase ranges between 10 cents and 1 euro. When calculating the average, it is found that the rise has been between 10.91% and 12% compared to previous prices. the mean of theprice hike for iOS apps is 11.28%.
Surprise
Nobody expected this increase, not even the creators of the apps themselves who, on the one hand, think that part of the additional profit should go to them (Apple’s share of the profits is a fixed percentage, so part of the increase Yes, it should have an impact on the developers’ income) but, on the other hand, they fear that the App Store price hike may lead to decreased sales.
Kiosk prices rise
They have not been saved from Price hike for Apple kiosk magazines. As with apps, Apple has raised prices, unilaterally and without prior notice to publishers (including Axel Springer Spaineditor of computer today and of computerhoy.com), both in the purchase of individual copies and in subscriptions. However, for those previously contracted, the price for which they were contracted is maintained until the next renewal, that is, users will not have to pay the proportional part of the increase that would correspond to them from Friday, October 26 until the end of the contract. of your subscription.
Mac App Store, also more expensive
Mac OS X users who have connected to the Mac App Store in the last few hours have been able to verify that the price increase has also been applied to Mac software that can be purchased from that platform. However, given that the pricing policy of said platform is more flexible than that of iOS, it is more difficult to quantify the increase of all those apps that do not adjust to the basic price steps (which are the same as those of the App Store for iOS).
only in europe
According to Alan Hely, an Apple spokesman, prices have only risen in the old continent. In an email sent by him, it is stated “From time to time Apple adjusts prices of products in countries due to changes in exchange rates”, translated “From time to time, Apple reviews the prices of its products in countries, due to fluctuations in exchange rates (between currencies)”. That is Apple has raised the price of apps due to the weakness of the euro against the dollar. Let’s remember that about a year ago, the exchange rate was just over 1.41 dollars per euro, while the current one has been around 1.30 dollars per euro for a few weeks now.
However, it is surprising that this measure comes now, and not between July and August of this year, when the price reached a minimum not seen in a long time: less than 1.20 dollars per euro. On the other hand, and at a time when the exchange rate was much higher (even reaching a dollar and a half per euro) Manzana it did not carry out any operation in the opposite direction, that is to say: it did not lower its prices.
Be that as it may, it is clear that Manzana can afford the Price hike for iOS apps, but it will be necessary to remain attentive to the reactions, both from users and from other platforms that, perhaps, decide to imitate this movement. Do you usually buy apps in the App Store? What do you think of this climb? Will you stop buying or will you continue to do so?
