Apple announced on Monday that all developers can make their new apps available for pre-order on all Apple platforms. This means developers can now take advantage of the same method used to promote the popular Super Mario Run game before its official release.
App Store customers can see an app’s product page and order the app before it’s released for download. When the app is released, customers will be notified, and the app will be automatically downloaded to their devices. In the case of paid apps, customers will be charged before the download takes place.
From Apple’s iTunes Connect Developer Resource site:
To make your new app available for pre-order:
- From the homepage, click My Apps, select the app, and select Pricing and Availability in the left column. You’ll see the Pre-Orders section if your app has never been published on the App Store.
- Select Make available for pre-order, choose a date to release your app for download, then click Save in the upper-right corner. The release date must be at least two days in the future, but no more than 90 days in the future.
- Submit your app for review.
- Once your app is approved and you’re ready to make it available for pre-order, return to Pricing and Availability, confirm the date your app will be released for download, and click Release as Pre-Order in the upper-right corner.
You can submit a new version update or change pricing and availability during the pre-order period. If you change the price of your app during the pre-order period, customers will be charged the price that is lower — the price they accepted for pre-order or the price on the day of release. If your app offers in-app purchases, you can set them up in iTunes Connect before and during the pre-order period so that everything is ready once your app is released for download. Keep in mind that promoted in-app purchases will not display on your App Store product page until your app is released for download.
In related news, Apple on Monday launched new features for Sales and Trends as related to pre-orders and subscriptions. Introductory pricing is also now available for auto-renewable subscriptions. Developers can read the details of all of the above are available at the iTunes Connect website.
