In app purchase paves way for unlockable demo apps [iPhone]

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Apple introduced in app purchases with the iPhone 3.0 OS. Until now, this feature was available in paid apps only. A recent email from Apple to developers reveals that it is now available for free apps as well.

This means that developers can now release demo apps and users can unlock the full app using in app purchase. This eliminates the need to release lite and full versions separately. Apple will keep its standard 30% revenue share from such purchases.

Here are the excerpts from the email sent from Apple to developers:

“In App Purchase is being rapidly adopted by developers in their paid apps. Now you can use In App Purchase in your free apps to sell content, subscriptions, and digital services“

“You can also simplify your development by creating a single version of your app that uses In App Purchase to unlock additional functionality, eliminating the need to create Lite versions of your app. Using In App Purchase in your app can also help combat some of the problems of software piracy by allowing you to verify In App Purchases.”

Will this also pave the way for unofficial cracks? Maybe. But I have a strong feeling that Apple is becoming the M$ of mobile computing.

[Yahoo! via iPhoneIndia]