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App Store Exclusive Distributor of iPhone Apps
Posted by Wilson Rothman at 6:04 AM on March 7, 2008
Today in Cupertino, Steve Jobs announced that Apple would sell iPhone (and iPod touch) applications over App Store, which can be used over-the-air on the iPhone itself, or can be sideloaded via iTunes on a computer. It comes with the 2.0 firmware update. Apple says it's exclusive, meaning it's the only place people will go to get iPhone apps.
It looks a lot like installer.app, but with icons. It's got top 50 apps and search. The apps will automatically update programs, like installer.app.
On the developer side, developers pick price, and get 70% of the revenue. There's No credit-card or hosting fees. Free software will be supported, too, but porn and other raunch will be omitted. [Apple SDK Live Blog]








Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
tamoko
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@shorty63136: Good point.
tamoko
iJake
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@Skyyboy: Is 6 days really that big of a difference, I mean, late February was just last week, it's not like it was delayed a month or more. I would rather them release it a week or two later if it insures that I'm not going to have to install the 2.0.1 patch the next week to fix any bugs. People need to learn a little patience.
iJake
zombo
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
... but I don't see an answer. How do you distribute in-house apps?
zombo
zombo
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@nojo: the answer has been published:
[developer.apple.com]
$299 to develop in-house/Enterprise apps.
zombo
labrats5
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
$99 dev certificate is very reasonable. 70% revenue is in line with what microsoft charges developers of XBOX live arcade, but I still think it's a little steep. But it definitely is about the best I was expecting from Apple, especially considering how robust the SDK seems to be. Plus, free apps are sweet.
labrats5
nojo
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@zombo: That's my question. My interest in the SDK is tinkering for my own pleasure, and I have no desire to distribute my results. So, say I create some custom server-monitoring software for my own use -- can I load it on my own iPhone without going through iTunes?
nojo
frigg
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@Spetsdod: $99 is not prohibitive. For free apps, it's like an everlasting hosting fee. In return, Apple provides a digital signature without which the application doesn't run on the iPhone. At least, I think that's how it works (and why you can't provide your app from your own internets w/o the official digital sig).
frigg
Jrsy
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@discounteggroll:
I'm not sure I'm ready to know what a 'jizzmodo.app' would be for....
Jrsy
cylonite
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@suburbancowboy: are you paying a monthly subscription fee to Apple like the iphone users are? Stop whining, if you want the apps, pay for them. If not dont.
cylonite
snitch29
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Nice!!!!!! everyone with a brain to write apps can quit there day jobs now and start making money
snitch29
awesomerobot
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
By the time you pay for all the upgrades on the touch you would of bought an iPhone, lol.
awesomerobot
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Once again: reading is fundamental.
The fee to upgrade the Touch to firmware v. 2.0 is TBD. After you do that and subsequently get access to the iApps (or whatever they're gonna call it) Store, free apps are...*gasp*...FREE!
Imagine that.
shorty63136
PDSM
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Have to wait soo long. Nike is already trying it out ?
PDSM
Skyyboy
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
note that it says "late June" just like this announcement was supposed to happen "late February"
so, be prepared for a July/August actual release
Skyyboy
suburbancowboy
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Why are touch owners getting shafted multiple times? 20 bucks to upgrade, when new touch owners were getting it free, and now I have to pay to get free apps?
suburbancowboy
zombo
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Ok, so what about developing internal apps? The only way to distribute them is through iTunes Apps? What if I don't want others to get their mitts on them?
zombo
Earthslide
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@SeattleTed: Sweet! Asking for a program you don't know how to use and sighing when it does come out ... yeah, still douche bag :)
Earthslide
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Way to go BLam: nominal fee for iPod Touch upgrade to 2.0 is TBD.
shorty63136
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
As a developer you pay a one-time $99 fee for the SDK. After that, Apple takes 30% of your revenue from it and you take 70%.
I would think that there's SOME kind of way to sync them over without using iTunes/the App Store. If iToner can do it for ringtones, there's gotta be a way to do it for th apps. Somebody will think of it. Just let me know when they do.
shorty63136
Spetsdod
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Does this mean that if I download the SDK, develop an application, and put up a website offering the app for download (free), that users won't be able to download the app themselves, and sync it to their device?
I would speculate then that if Apple is going to charge $99 to host an app on the Apple store, that effectively means that developers are being charged to get their apps out into the wild, and will conversely be less likely to offer apps for free.
Spetsdod
discounteggroll
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
so much for my hopes of developing a jizzmodo app. back to square 1
discounteggroll
SeattleTed
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@Earthslide: well I think you killed the douchebag term for this generation. Calling people a douchebag for an eagerly awaited app officially indicates the lowest common denominators of society have taken up a term they don't know how to use.
SeattleTed
Falconfire
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@lafond66: Um RTFA. Free Apps ARE SUPPORTED... meaning its purely the developer who sets the price.
Falconfire
strictnein
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
"iPod touch will also get the update but at a "nominal charge" due to Apple's accounting principles that differ between the Touch and iPhone."
What a f'en joke. I'm going to get charged so I can buy applications?
strictnein
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
It's clear some can't read.
Developers aren't charged for FREE apps. Hinting that there will be FREE apps.
Fundamental.
shorty63136
lafond66
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
exclusive? lame. Aka no free apps. Apple sucks.
lafond66
The Full English Please!!
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Developers: sell the apps in Iphone to get popularity then direct download from your site and boom 100% rev
The Full English Please!!
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@ zincrox - My thoughts EXACTLY! I need some games in my life!
shorty63136
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@ nutbastard - these will be supported on the iPod Touch (live.gizmodo.com)
shorty63136
zincrox
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@shorty63136:
same, but why june. i want it now
zincrox
nutbastard
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
after playing with an iPhone many months ago, i concluded it was cool, but lacked apps and was ultimately unjustifiable in its cost.
While I still feel like purchasing/using one is still a bit steep, most of my gripes are now addressed. If the iPod touch can run these things, though, I may have to pick one up - EDGE sucks enough that I would always pine for WiFi anyways while being all pissed at how much im paying for EDGE. The Touch has WiFi. I might be on to something here...
nutbastard
The Full English Please!!
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Hope by the time i get the 3G iphone the hackers have stepped in and hacked the apps.... it is inevitable, just depends on time
The Full English Please!!
zincrox
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@Buzzed:
mega bad ass
zincrox
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
K, thanks!
Wish it wasn't gonna take until June to get this! I guess I'll survive.
shorty63136
Earthslide
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
I thought the impatient douche bags that wanted this damn "sdk" to be released are suppose to be the ones making stupid apps for it?
Earthslide
MikeSWelch
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@shorty63136: I think that means the developers will get paid monthly from Apple.
MikeSWelch
kittenman
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
wow 70% plaint revenue to developers? big deal!
kittenman
Buzzed
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
@shorty63136: Sounds like the Devs would get a monthly check for the revenue and we would pay 1 fee.
Buzzed
shorty63136
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
I'm so psyched it's not even funny!
Question though - it says paid monthly, for developers? I would think that it would be a flat charge to the user for the app download.
Clarify?
shorty63136
Buzzed
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
BAD ASS!
Buzzed
jonny
Posted 8:26 AM 7/3/08
Huge.
jonny
nojo
Posted 9:59 AM 7/3/08
@zombo: The $299 solution comes with a syringe.
Anyway, I've signed up for the freebee, and I'll wait for the traffic to die down before attempting to download it. If it actually "debugs" on the phone itself, that may (or may not) be close enough to tinker for personal use.
nojo
olternaut
Posted 9:59 AM 7/3/08
@snitch29:
Seriously! Plus with the 100 MILLION in the ifund some kids who want to start a company just for making iphone apps can get funded by Apple themselves!
Great freaking stuff!
olternaut
olternaut
Posted 9:59 AM 7/3/08
@Spetsdod:
No. Your going to have to go through the app store even if the app is free. Apple made it clear today that they want to make sure the app is on the up and up before they let the entire iphone community have access to it.
They made a great argument why a dev is going to need to go through the app store to let users get their apps. At least your not going to have to sync it physically to dock to download an app. You can do it over the cell network or wifi. And 70 percent of the revenue goes to the dev for writing the app if he/she is selling it. This is good stuff man! I don't think Apple can be more fair than this.
olternaut
olternaut
Posted 9:59 AM 7/3/08
@zincrox:
June dude because at the WWDC 08.......3G Iphone!!
olternaut
odnet
Posted 11:15 AM 7/3/08
its basically what the installer.app dudes did. but apple branded. Im sure some one will make "Hack Store" with the ability to add other sources and all that fun-ness. either way its gonna be sweet.
odnet
GumbyJump
Posted 5:47 PM 7/3/08
@olternaut:
Wow, you'll drink all the kool-ade Jobs hands you! This control Apple is taking over software is both unprecedented and ridiculous. Once again Apple has found a way to cut in on the profits of someone else's work. A dev could make a distribute their app for 100% of profits, but Apple is stealing 30% from their pockets.
Of course, that's only if Apple is gracious enough to let the dev's app onto the iPhone. This is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist and it's a lame excuse for Apple to make more money. It's pathetic. GO TO HELL, JOBS!!
GumbyJump
thechansen
Posted 7:01 PM 7/3/08
So I just got done messing around with the SDK. Jesus they made it easy to work with. I haven't paid the $99 to test my first app on the iphone but it seems to work just fine with the Aspen simulator. Hopefully you'll see me on the App Store come June. can i haz ifunds now?
thechansen
someToast
Posted 1:03 AM 8/3/08
@GumbyJump: "This is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist and it's a lame excuse for Apple to make more money. It's pathetic. GO TO HELL, JOBS!!"
How dare Apple provide an easy way for developers to get their phone apps on a hugely-popular distribution platform for a reasonable price!
someToast
ghmlco
Posted 2:17 AM 8/3/08
Ditto. The real innovation coming out of the SDK event is the "App Store". By providing iPhone developers with an audience ready, willing, able--and required--to actually pay for their software, Apple is going to encourage an avalanche of applications for the iPhone platform.
See: [www.iSights.org]
ghmlco
mSiqueira
Posted 6:14 AM 8/3/08
no porn? shitty...
mSiqueira
x23
Posted 10:29 AM 10/3/08
@GumbyJump:
Wow, you'll drink all the kool-ade Bill Gates hands you! This control Microsoft is taking over software is both unprecedented and ridiculous. Once again Microsoft has found a way to cut in on the profits of someone else's work. A dev could make a distribute their app for 100% of profits, but Microsoft is stealing 30% from their pockets.
Of course, that's only if Microsoft is gracious enough to let the dev's app onto the Xbox Marketplace. This is an answer to a problem that doesn't exist and it's a lame excuse for Microsoft to make more money. It's pathetic. GO TO HELL, BILL GATES!!
x23