Apple Plans Introductory Pricing for Auto-Renewable Subscriptions With iOS 11.2

Apple is set to please developers by bringing a special pricing feature to iOS 11.2. The feature, called "introductory pricing" is already highlighted in iOS 11.2 beta 2 and will arrive for auto-renewable subscription apps following the public release of the new iOS version. It will allow developers to offer new customers a discounted price to sweeten the deal of auto-renewable subscriptions.

As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple has announced through the iOS 11.2 beta 2 changelog that it has developed classes SKProductDiscount and SKProductSubscriptionPeriod as well as properties subscriptionPeriod and introductoryPrice on its existing SKProduct class. These developments will allow the company to push the new pricing feature for a specific billing period.

Additionally, the new API additions will help app developers inform their users about the introductory pricing. The in-app purchase page in iTunes Connect will also soon receive an update along with the ability to let the developers configure the discount for each of their listings on the App Store.

The model of offering subscription apps is already enabling Apple to expand its revenues through recurring subscription charges. The iPhone maker generally charges 30 percent of the revenue generated by app developers on the App Store. However, the revenue share dips to 15 percent for subscriptions of over one year period.

For end users, the subscription model doesn't have many fruits to offer. But the latest change would give them a reason to, at least, try the features that they get from an in-app subscription at a discounted price. Ultimately, developers will be able to offer something in between a free trial and a full subscription.

In June, Apple announced that developer earnings from the App Store reached whopping $70 billion (approximately Rs. 4,55,219 crores) with total downloads grew over 70 percent in the past 12 months. With iOS 11, the Cupertino giant even revamped the App Store with a Today section and a dedicated Games tab to help developers increase downloads for their creations.