Anyone that has an iPhone knows how the AppStore works: You search for an app, get to see its extensive description and a few screenshots and, if you decide to, you’ll purchase it on the spot.
There is an app for anything and, in some case, several applications for the same thing. But then, how do you get to choose the best one? Usually being very inexpensive, you can afford to buy several apps until you find the right one for you. But, in a world of shareware and 15-30-60-90-days trials, this is fairly new (to me, at least. I had a revelation this morning.). Even in the real world you get to first try the thing you want to buy. And if you don’t try it first, you’d have some sort of money back guarantee.
To be clear, I’m not complaining about the bucks I spend in vain on iPhone apps, but I’m curious to know what exactly makes AppStore’s model work. Is it the low price? Is it the AppStore app filter and review process, or the hype behind Apple-everything? Is it the seamless purchase process? Could be any of these, I guess, or a combination of them all.
Thinking about it a little more, one can wonder if the some model would work in the world of software outside the AppStore? Would you pay a small amount a money in order to try any of the software out there? Would this make software more affordable? I guess that’s one of the reasons why subscription based purchases are more and more popular. Nothing new here, that’s for sure.
With all these in mind, I still find it a bit shocking to purchase an app just to dump it two races later. 
PS: BTW, are other mobile app stores based on the same business model?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Not all the applications on the iPhone store are like that.
You don’t mention the fact that quite a few iPhone software publishers also provide a ‘lite’ version of their application so that you can at least try out a few demo levels or can have limited interaction with it.
[Cristian]
Yeah, I guess that the lite version could be considered as trial version. However, not all apps have lite version. I guess that it’s quite a burden to maintain two version, not say to get them through the AppStore approval process.
Anyways, good point!
I believe the App Store works only because of the low price of each application. I too have spent too much money on apps that fall short of what they promise.
I don’t think that would work on the web for shareware though. The App Store is successful because everyone has their phone with them all the time. They can purchase an application from anywhere. On the web you have to usually be at work or on your home computer in order to purchase a piece of shareware.
Subscription services work because of the low cost as well. This is a proven and very successful distribution paradigm as proven by companies such as 37Signals with BaseCamp and Backpack.
[Cristian]
Good points, couldn’t said it better myself.
Does this post means that next update may contain widgets for iPhone apps mockups?
[Cristian]
But, as a mere coincidence, the next release will come with iPhone support.
Ha, Israel, it has nothing to do with the next release!
Great, is it gonna be a major update? and when are you releasing it?
Can’t wait
[Cristian]
Not sure. Hopefully next week. I was hoping for this week but I’d better get it all polished and set up before letting it out. So, stay tuned!