Comments on: First Example of In-App Purchasing Does Not Bode Well

By: kunal

kunal — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:01:20 +0000

I am new in iphone technology. I have to start In-App puchase application. I need the architecture and sample code of this application

By: kunal

kunal — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 10:58:33 +0000

I am new in iphone technology. I have to In-App puchase application. I need the architecture and sample code of this application

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:39:52 +0000

>>>If stand-alone Garmin and Tom-Tom hardware with software can be purchased for $150 or less and used without annual subscriptions, their iPhone Apps should worth a one-time payment of $20-$30 — at most!

You forget that you have to buy a separate FM receiver and an annual subscription fee in order to get live traffic information.

You also forget that GPS hardware makers are dying left and right.

By: Navigon’s Mobile Navigator iPhone App Beats TomTom to Market | Design Website

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:47:19 +0000

[...] effort isn’t strictly the first iPhone turn-by-turn app–that label goes to Gokivo, which hit Friday and costs $10 per month–but it’s the first product from a big, [...]

By: Navigon’s Mobile Navigator iPhone App Beats TomTom to Market

Navigon’s Mobile Navigator iPhone App Beats TomTom to Market — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:08:34 +0000

[...] effort isn’t strictly the first iPhone turn-by-turn app–that label goes to Gokivo, which hit Friday and costs $10 per month–but it’s the first product from a big, [...]

By: HD Boy

HD Boy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:18:15 +0000

…Oh, and the $9.99 per month, Verizon and AAA navigation fees are questionable too. Verizon is a known leech.

4. We’ve already paid federal taxes to launch and support the damn navigation satellites. I’d pay a one-time fee to use the service and never have to upgrade it again (perhaps only upgrading when I chose to do so).
5. What if I live in an area where new roads are seldom built or I don’t travel as much as a salesman?
6. I might need and want the service, but not every day, and I don’t want to be nickel-and-dimed to death.

By: HD Boy

HD Boy — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 06:09:12 +0000

I say avoid all these “turn-by-turn navigation Apps for now and send a crystal clear message to the developers — no subscription fees.

1. A $99 subscription fee is like Microsoft trying to get everyone to rent music — it ain’t gonna’ happen.
2. If stand-alone Garmin and Tom-Tom hardware with software can be purchased for $150 or less and used without annual subscriptions, their iPhone Apps should worth a one-time payment of $20-$30 — at most!
3. Even then, these new, unproven Apps first should be available on a 24-hour, trial basis and/or with a refund available if the software doesn’t meet the customer’s approval.

By: iPhone OS 3.0: new revenue opportunities for publishers | Johann van Tonder

iPhone OS 3.0: new revenue opportunities for publishers | Johann van Tonder — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:45:21 +0000

[...] first app to take advantage of both these features, Gokivo, drew heavy criticism. The navigation app is sold in the iTunes store for 99 cents. For $9.99 p.m, payable from inside [...]

By: Jeredb.com » Called it as soon as I heard it.

Jeredb.com » Called it as soon as I heard it. — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 15:07:49 +0000

[...] First Example of In-App Purchasing Does Not Bode Well . [...]

By: MDolley

MDolley — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 09:29:46 +0000

What about flick fishing? It updated with in app purchasing as soon as I updated to OS 3.0 on my iPod touch?

It was 1.19 ($AU) for a new fishing location. Which I think is a good example of in app purchasing.

By: First IPhone App With In-App Purchasing: $US1 App, $US10 Per Month | Gizmodo Australia

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:53:27 +0000

[...] more apps to start charging this way? Bring on the sleazy, crippled apps begging for more money! [The Apple Blog] Tagged:app storeappleappscellphonesgokivogpsiphoneiphone [...]

By: Steve Andler

Steve Andler — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:01:26 +0000

Gokivo is refunding users with an iTunes song that felt confused or misled by our 99 cent download price and $9.99 monthly subscription model in the first two days in the App Store. This confusion was certainly not intentional

See details in a press release here – http://bit.ly/3v3xo

Again, our apologies for any misunderstanding. We hope this clears things up.

By: Janet

Janet — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:03:01 +0000

Gokivo is made by NIM — a very legit navigation app maker that also created the Verizon’s VZ Navigator and AAA Mobile Navigator. They also charge the same $9.99 per month for VZ Navigator and AAA Mobile Navigator.

There is no scam here. I would accept that it’s an honest mistake for them to not make it clear that TBT requires the subscription fee.

What’s more interesting is how Apple responds to refund request if people complain that it’s not accurate? NIM makes good accurate TBT navigation apps for other cell phones. It’s not Goviko’s problem if the iphone hardware feeds the software incorrect GPS data.

By: First iPhone App with In-App Purchasing: $1 App, $10 Per Month [IPhone Apps] | PC Hardware News

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:00:44 +0000

[...] Update: The developer wrote in to explain that the per minute pricing was accidentally left in after the QA process and should be removed in an imminent update. Here’s their full explanation. [The Apple Blog] [...]

By: Gareth Williams

Gareth Williams — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:58:26 +0000

Folks, we messed up and submitted the Dev/QA testing build to the App Store. The 1 and 3 dollar-a-minute amounts were just for testing the in-app billing (so our QA wouldn’t have to wait 30 days to retest). You can read the explanation on our blog here:http://blog.networksinmotion.com/2009/06/18/day-2-in-the-app-store-2/

The app store has since been updated with the end-user version.

By: Jared

Jared — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:21:51 +0000

The App Store just needs a little badge next to the rating that says whether the app uses in-App purchases or not and the developers declare this fact when they submit heir apps to the store. If an App does use in-app purchases but the developer doesn’t declare it, they are kicked out of the store. The emblem can be an icon of a Nickel and a Dime… since apps like this will nickel and dime you.