Apple had a slight change of heart earlier this month, and updated its App Store review guidelines to allow the use of “approved” virtual currencies in apps. Coindesk reports that Coin Pocket has launched in the App Store, becoming the first iOS app to allow users to send and receive the Bitcoin virtual currency.
In addition to Coin Pocket, gift card purchasing app eGifter has also received an update to now accept Bitcoin as a form of payment. Earlier this month, betting app Betcoin also appeared on the App Store with in-app Bitcoin spending capabilities. Its developer, Omri Cohen, noted that the app was an experiment to test what Apple would allow ahead of the policy change on virtual currencies in apps.
Prior to the policy change, Apple tended to remove and deny apps that used virtual currencies. Last year, Apple required the developers of Gliph, a private messaging app, to remove the app’s ability to send Bitcoins, or face removal from the App Store.
Coin Pocket, eGifter, and Betcoin are all available in the iOS App Store.
