iOS may feature app rental in future
The Tech Erra have uncovered a few lines of code in the iTunes 10.5 beta 9 that hint at an app rental system in future iOS updates.
Lines of text appear in the iTunes code which indicate pop-up messages provisioned for future Apple iTumes versions. These messages include, “Apps are automatically removed from your iTunes library at the end of the rental period,” and “This app will be deleted from your computer.”
The rental system may offer a try-before-you-buy approach currently used by the Amazon Android app store; though there is no indication whether app rentals will be free in the beginning or whether they would charge a reduced fee.
Developers could be hurt by the new system though, with some studies showing that most iPhone users don’t use an app beyond the first download. If this is the case and the rental approach includes a free trial, consumers would be able to make use of the app for free until their needs are met, then cancel the app rental, leading to a loss in revenue for developers.
Read the full story over at: ArsTechnica.
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