Comments on: How Prices Compare on Different App Stores

By: ASHOK KUMAR

ASHOK KUMAR — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 08:15:19 +0000

I don’t own an Android but the difference between the “including free” and “just paid” graphs is pretty spectacular. It means there are a ton of free apps for Android. Probably due to the “open” culture of the platform. Though quality is hard to quantify, it would be interesting to compare the overall quality of the apps on these platforms as well (or at least the quality of the top apps in each genre).
2.

Blackberry and Windows Mobile apps are comparatively very expensive and I doubt its because they are just that much better. I suspect it is because it is much more difficult to make a living selling cheap apps on those old platforms, where there is not a developed culture of app purchasing.
3.

The Android paid prices are only a bit higher than the iPhone’s. I wonder if there are really enough Android users to support those low prices or if they are artificially deflated because of people’s expectations from the iPhone app store (i.e. I heard you could get this kind of Twitter app for half the price on the iPhone! What is up with that?) If they are indeed artificially deflated, I think we can expect developers to raise prices soon, due to the necessity of making a living.
4.

As an iPhone developer, pricing is a big issue. The app store is, for the most part, a hit-based market and quantity is extremely important in getting exposure on the “store front”. For apps with general appeal and a chance at the top 100 (in general or in their category), it makes sense to minimize the price for impulse purchases to traverse the charts. On the other hand, if you have a niche app its a real struggle as you are expected to have a low price but cannot sell the quantity to make that a viable. As developers realize this, I think we will see app store prices going up a bit in general and only top 100 apps boasting the 99 cent price points we are seeing now.

By: Mobclix and Nielsen Ink Mobile Ad Targeting Data Deal – GigaOM

Mobclix and Nielsen Ink Mobile Ad Targeting Data Deal – GigaOM — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:26:22 +0000

[...] offers mobile analytics that provide developers with information about how consumers use their mobile applications, and the [...]

By: Craze for mobile apps to reach new heights in 2010 | Going Cellular

Craze for mobile apps to reach new heights in 2010 | Going Cellular — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:49:27 +0000

[...] 8,500 apps, BlackBerry App World has over 3,462, and Noka Ovi has over 2,213, according to a recent Mobclix survey. Verizon also has its own App Center, which would change the playing field from platform to [...]

By: BlackBerry App World Still Leads in Most Expensive Apps | Blackberry Software

Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:26:15 +0000

[...] GigaOM and Mobclix have put together a nice chart showing the average cost of a paid application on .... We have talked a few times about how App World has the highest priced apps relative to the other smartphones, and to date, it still leads by over a compared to the next highest Windows Mobile. RIM should be much more active in helping developers drive these prices down. At the very least, App World needs a better promotional system similar to the BlackBerry Cool Store, so they can offer a Deal of the Day, BOGO campaigns and MobileHeist sales. [...]

By: Jeffrey

Jeffrey — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:20:22 +0000

And Palm isn't even worth a mention. Brutal.

By: BlackBerry App World Still Leads in Most Expensive Apps | BlackBerry Cool

BlackBerry App World Still Leads in Most Expensive Apps | BlackBerry Cool — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:47:58 +0000

[...] GigaOM and Mobclix have put together a nice chart showing the average cost of a paid application on .... We have talked a few times about how App World has the highest priced apps relative to the other smartphones, and to date, it still leads by over a $1 compared to the next highest Windows Mobile. RIM should be much more active in helping developers drive these prices down. At the very least, App World needs a better promotional system similar to the BlackBerry Cool Store, so they can offer a Deal of the Day, BOGO campaigns and MobileHeist sales. [...]

By: Peter Farago

Peter Farago — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:56:37 +0000

I believe the averaging pricing per app store makes perfect sense. Blackberry users are professionals whose companies pay for the employees phone bill in most cases. So, in effect, the purchaser is not using his or her own money. Further, the Blackberry App World has a mandate that all apps have to be priced at a minimum of USD $2.99. Like Blackberry, Windows Mobile also targets a business / enterprise segment. Android and iPhone are in the middle, more consumer targeted, and subject more to the laws of natural supply and demand and competitive pricing since no pricing floors exist and the consumer is paying with his or her own money. On the low end of the market, the significant majority of Nokia's installed base is on feature phones, with a large share in the "Rest of World" part of the market. As a result, my assumption is that most of these users are not as affluent as one would find using smartphones and, more often, in western markets.

By: altrenda

altrenda — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 00:59:20 +0000

As a developer, I want to develop for iPhone because Apple has its users conditioned to pay for apps,and makes it so easy to spend money on apps.

As a user I prefer to use Android. Apps are now coming sooner for Android i.e. Qik, Navigation, Google Voice, etc. And apps that cost on iPhone are often free for Android.

By: detailtag

detailtag — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 21:25:39 +0000

Are these averages weighted, i.e. price per downloaded app? I'd expect weighted averages to be much lower.

By: Jeremy Olson

Jeremy Olson — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:41:03 +0000

Four thoughts:

I don't own an Android but the difference between the "including free" and "just paid" graphs is pretty spectacular. It means there are a ton of free apps for Android. Probably due to the "open" culture of the platform. Though quality is hard to quantify, it would be interesting to compare the overall quality of the apps on these platforms as well (or at least the quality of the top apps in each genre).
Blackberry and Windows Mobile apps are comparatively very expensive and I doubt its because they are just that much better. I suspect it is because it is much more difficult to make a living selling cheap apps on those old platforms, where there is not a developed culture of app purchasing.
The Android paid prices are only a bit higher than the iPhone's. I wonder if there are really enough Android users to support those low prices or if they are artificially deflated because of people's expectations from the iPhone app store (i.e. I heard you could get this kind of Twitter app for half the price on the iPhone! What is up with that?) If they are indeed artificially deflated, I think we can expect developers to raise prices soon, due to the necessity of making a living.
As an iPhone developer, pricing is a big issue. The app store is, for the most part, a hit-based market and quantity is extremely important in getting exposure on the "store front". For apps with general appeal and a chance at the top 100 (in general or in their category), it makes sense to minimize the price for impulse purchases to traverse the charts. On the other hand, if you have a niche app its a real struggle as you are expected to have a low price but cannot sell the quantity to make that a viable. As developers realize this, I think we will see app store prices going up a bit in general and only top 100 apps boasting the 99 cent price points we are seeing now.