With the app sales marketplace already a thriving community, it only stands to grow larger on the back of Apple’s announcement that iOS 7 will bring with it the ability for app ownership transfers within iTunes Connect.
In a story first revealed on Venturebeat, they provided a screenshot of the update sent to developers and went on to explain that apps can now be transferred from one developer to another within iTunes Connect, for example after selling your app or when an app distribution deal expires.
Transferring ownership of an app does not affect the app’s availability on the App Store. All ratings and reviews will be transferred and customers will continue to have access to all available app updates.
The iTunes Connect app transfer process is simple to control from the Manage Your Applications module on iTunes Connect where you can simply click Transfer App in the App Summary page.
Notifications are sent to both developers participating in the app sale and transfer to ensure they accept the deal but are not involved in the financial aspects of the transaction.
This change in policy for Apple is bound to prove profitable for the app sales marketplace sites like Apptopia or App Business Brokers who until now have been restricted to selling the source code to iOS apps where the new developer was required to re-brand or at least re-launch the new app under a completely new iTunes developer account and retained none of the history or success of the previous version released by the original developers.
Until now, you couldn’t buy an app from a developer without needing to take it down from iTunes and start over.
This change will allow brands to buy an app from a developer to rebrand as their own and app developers can buy apps that compliment their portfolio or unsuccessful apps that are in need of a bit of tweaking and a fresh update to bounce right back.
With the massive number of apps in iTunes, the ability to buy and sell apps could completely change the dynamics for app developers interested in buying and selling apps and the app sales marketplace as a whole.
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12 Comments
Charles
I think this is great I have been working on an app idea for awhile now and I think I am ready to launch it and this helps me know where and how to do that. Thank you for posting this, does anyone know how many apps there are available to the smart phone already? Are there still new ones coming out everyday?
Scott
I don't know why you would want to sell your app? If I make an app I am going to want it to make money for me from that point on so why would you sell it to someone else? I have some great ideas for some apps and now that I have read the majority of your post I think I know what I need to do to get them started.
Miguel
I looks like Apple is stepping up their game when it comes to improving the app consumer market. I have been using itunes for years and I like the recent improvements they have made to the interface. I like the idea of white labeling apps. This can help to boost sales of apps for those who don't necessarily want to develop, but rather, who just want to market apps as resellers offering development services.
Kevin
I heard that if you already have an iTunes Connect account for distributing another media type besides apps (music, TV, movies, or books) or for participating in the Volume Purchase Program, the same Apple ID cannot be used to manage apps. When you enroll in the iOS Developer Program or Mac Developer Program, you will need to use a different Apple ID.
George
December is around the corner and those using iTunes connect should remember the app store will shut down December 21-28 for the winter holidays. You should not schedule pricing changes that take effect during the shutdown these changes will not be reflected on the App Store and your apps or In-App Purchase items will become unavailable until after the shutdown. In addition, releases that are scheduled to go live between these dates will be delayed.
Samuel
I think it is good that developers can now seamlessly buy apps that complement their portfolios or acquire unsuccessful apps that are in need of a bit of tweaking or a fresh update. That old saying, one man's trash is another man's treasure can also apply to apps. Sometimes, a developer has a great idea, but for some reason gives up on the project and another developer conjures up a great idea to improve it.
Richard
In iTunes Connect you can supposedly view the customer reviews that users have left for your apps. I feel there is a design flaw with the dashboard. You have to select a country to view only the comments and rating from that country. I wonder why there is no default option to view all countries at once. There is no way for me to check if there are any comments.
Dexter
I understand the selling aspect of this but what I want to know Is why you would want to sell it? Isn't there a way to keep the app and make money off of it? I thought if you developed an app you could use it to make money just like the web sites and things are used for money making purposes. You have a great blog keep it up .
Randy
If you have ever attempted to submit an app to the iOS App Store - you are acutely aware of Apple's unique app review process. What should be one final simple step in the development process has turned into a source of significant frustration and confusion for many mobile developers. So I think it's important to get some guidance on what to avoid when developing and publishing any iOS app.
Elizabeth
I am glad that I ran across your post here, I have developed an app that I think is going to be great and I have been setting on it because the right offer didn't come along now that I have seen your post and know how to go out and sell it properly that is what I am going to be working on next. You have done a great job on this.
Richard
This is great information for those of us out there that have an app in mind but have not followed through with it yet. Through various blogs from your company I have learned how to take it from a thought, put it on paper, get it developed by a company that I pick, market it and now sell it. I feel like I have had an entire course on this in just three days.
Ulysses
I understand buying an app and rebranding it as your own but with that said and people doing that all the time how do you come up with a good price to sell your app for? I want to sell mine for enough that it's going to make it easy to live for awhile but how do I know if that is to much? I mean they are making it their own for how long?