Apple iPhone and iPad users can now pre-order apps

Apple will be making it easier for iOS users to get hold of new apps that come on its App Store. The Cupertino-based tech titan has started allowing app developers to include a feature wherein they can allow the users to pre-order an app. Developers can let iOS app users pre-order apps up to 90 days before it releases. Once pre-ordered, the app will automatically download on the iPhone or iPad on its due date.

The feature is available on all the version of the app store. This means even iOS, macOS and tvOS apps can be pre-ordered. It is worth adding that, if the developer wants, it can offer both paid and free apps for pre-order. If the price of the paid app changes during the pre-order period, the customers will be charged for whichever is the lowest price.

“Before releasing your app on the App Store for the first time, you can choose to offer it as a pre-order. Customers can see your product page and order your app before it’s released for download. Once your app is released, customers will be notified and your app will automatically download to their device. For paid apps, customers will be charged before download,” says the dedicated Apple iTunes page.
The page adds that developers can change the release date of the app while it is in the pre-order period. However, the new release date cannot be more than 90 days from when the app was first available for pre-order on the App Store. They can update the app during pre-order period, remove it from pre-order offer, change the price during the same time and even make the pre-order offer available in select countries only.
Although users won’t pre-order photo editing apps or any other productivity apps, this step could prove to be important for game developers as it may work as a tool to generate the hype around it ahead of its availability.

Google already has this feature available since years now. Android users can simply pre-register for an app and be the first ones to try it upon its launch