How does iTunes App Store handle trial versions?

Yes it is something like that. If you read the contact you sign to make apps, it says something like you are not allowed to have locked features. Basically because you could skip on apple getting 30% for the app. Sorry but you will have to figure something else out.

That sounds good... nothing is locked on the app except the 14 day limit. We already have the auth server that we've been using for 8 years on the other 2 platforms.

The other option was to have them pay via iTunes for the trial and refund if they decided not to go with it within 14 days... but that would be real messy.

Doesn't seem to cover that option clearly in the licensing.

In appreciation, I've bumped the points up to 500 and will leave it open another day in-case someone else has a thought

Does the app stop working after 14 days? Presumably it is not the app that stops working, but the sync service. The app remains fully functional, but the sync service that it connects to will not sync anything unless the sync subscription is activated.

Cheers,

Joel

Correct... the app is still fully functional, but data entered on the device or ACT! will no-longer sync unless the subscription is current.

You should be fine offering it as a free app then.

Cheers,

Joel

Id talk to Apple, I believe your violating their app contract.

There not going to let you get away with charging app for free and getting profit on the side. Other apps that charged per year have charged $150 for the app instead.

I think that epocrates is going to do this as well when they release Essentials for iPhone. The way their service works is you have an online account with them that has all of your subscriptions to their different products and the software is free from the app store you just sign in to your account on the iPhone and it populates your subscriptions.

This is a link to the free iPhone software http://www.epocrates.com/products/rx/iphone-instructions.html but you'll notice they require an account. Might be a model to look into.

Psufan, I've looked at the contract and couldn't find anything clear on this... which is why the post

I believe that since there is an already existing service, this would be a free app to allow you to connect to your subscription service. The app is an additional method to connect to the service, provided at no charge.

GLComputing, I havent looked through the contract, but Ive talked to iPhone devs who have told me they have had problems with apple trying to do something similar. He was trying to give free apps for people that bought it on the illegal installer.app. Apple wouldnt let him have registration codes to unlock the free lite edition and turn it into the full version.

Yes... "lite" editions are explicitly not allowed. That is not what this is about.

This is not a "lite" version that is unlocked with a key. In fact, there is no key ever added to the application.

Lite editions defiantly are allowed, and are used excessively.

The keys not the part they care about. The app designer told me that apple did not allow "LOCKED FEATURES". Your app would qualify as having locked features.

Actually, no feature on the software is "locked" and is fully functional from when it is downloaded and installed.

You must simply subscribe to the service in order to keep receiving sync after the trial period. All the data will be there for as long as you want for free.

Whatever, if you choose not to listen to me then I cannot help you.

Good luck.

Well... how do products that are only a service get sold on the App Store?

Are you saying that applications that are Software as a Service aren't supported by Apple? Is Apple that out of date?

There are no features locked and there doesn't seem to be anything covering this in the agreement.

I couldnt seem to find anything either.

But
- Apple reviews all apps before they get put in the store, as well as updates. Which is why 9 updates come out at the same time.
- Other companies that work from a monthly service have switched to a one time fee.
- Apple seems to have more rules then they tell you about in their contract. Developers have already had to remove the "credits" from their apps. Which wasnt stated in the developer agreement either.

Ask apple what you can do, or I can give you the email of the developer I was talkng to and he can tell you what hes run into himself.

I've asked Apple Australia, and they said they are pretty sure it would be ok... but didn't sound all that convincing.

Do you have contact details from anyone at Apple that might actually be able to provide a definitive answer?

I do have some Apple contacts, but none for that kinda thing. Look around on the apple developer website.

Asking other developers gives the same confusion as here... even asking Apple Australia doesn't give a conclusive answer.

So, you say it's not allowed but have no reason for your statement.

I told you why I think they dont allow it. Apple wouldnt get its 30% on the app if its free and your getting money on the side.

I contacted the developer I was talking to before, hopefully he can tell me where/how he got this info.

Apple specifically allow lots off free apps, for which they don't charge the developer anything. This is specifically allowed within the contract.

With the versions we have for the Blackberry and Windows Mobile, we don't charge for the software and there is nothing locked out of the software.... which seems ok under the Apple contract

1) Yes they dont charge anything after you pay $99 to be a developer
2) Forget about blackberry & windows, it has nothing to do with strict apple.
3) You cant seem to understand that if its only a 14 day trial period, and it doesnt work after the 14 days, then its LOCKED.

1. Paid
2. SaaS applications are not allowed on Apple? Wow... they'll be missing out on just about every CRM solution. Must not want the devices used in businesses.
3. It DOES work after the 14 days... nothing in it's use of the data that is then on the device, or the application is locked.

Ok so I followed this thread and did a little research in regards to your CRM solution. Here it goes salesforce (http://www.salesforce.com) is a SaaS. They use subscriptions for their solution including a 30 day free trial. They also have an iPhone app, that is FREE (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=281826146&mt=8). This is taken from their iPhone app page:

"Salesforce MOBILE License Required (free for Unlimited edition customers)
FREE 30-Day TRIAL
Sign-up when you first download the app or go online...."

So the answer [in my opinion] is YES you can have a SaaS and sell the app for free. I would assume you would want a subscription trial for 30 days but other than that you can charge for the service and not the app.

There are a few other examples out there I just cant remember them off hand.

All the ones you have to register for are free though. In that example, you said free for unlimited edition customers.

But if its optional to sign up for the service on your website, then I would probably agree, apple would probably allow that.

Free for 30 days, but all of them cost something... (http://www.salesforce.com/products/editions-pricing/feature-comparison/)

Just thought I'd let you know I haven't forgot this thread... we should be launching the product next month and will see what Apple says. After which I'll post back

Good that you brought this up again. I saw that the new iPhone OS will include software to allow subscriptions. The example given was buying a daily paper. This might be able to be based on a 30 day trial.