Apple’s Adds Pre-Order Feature To Its App Store

Apple as a brand has always been known for having a cutting edge over the rest. Be it the kind of gadgets it releases or the features that are a part of those gadgets. Everything thing it does is class apart.

Earlier this year, Apple once again showcased its top-notch quality by delivering the most attractive and feature loaded iPhone X.

Adding more to it, Apple has recently released a feature which is innovative and useful for developers as well as users. This feature lets users and app developers pre-order apps from the App Store.

With this feature, App developers will now be able to place their apps in App Store 90 days prior to the app release. Once the app is available for pre-order, users can simply pre-order the app to get notified when the app is finally released and have it auto downloaded and installed on their iOS device. Both free and paid apps can be placed on App Store. For paid apps customers will be asked for payment prior to installation.

Must Read: 5 New Amazing Features of the Revamped App Store in iOS 11

The feature is said to be available on App Store, iOS, macOS, and even tvOS. To some people this may seem to be a not so useful feature. However, when gamers are considered, this is a bang on feature that they will like the most.

Think of Super Mario that was announced previous year. This was the first time when a game was placed on App Store for pre-order. With this new news by Apple, all the developers can now offer their application for pre-order. As informed in the iTunes Connect’s Resources and Help documentation “Now you can make your new apps available for pre-order on all Apple platforms. 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.”

Img Src: Macstories

Apple has kept the procedure of app submission by developers simple and clear. This is how developers are supposed to submit their apps for pre-order:

1. Navigate to My Apps from the home page. Now select the app and tap on Pricing and Availability from the left column. If the app has never been published on the App Store you will be able to see the Pre-Orders section.
2. Now, tap on Make available for pre-order and then choose a release date for your application download. Now, click on Save located on the upper right corner. As per Apple, developers can place an app for pre-order no less than two days before the release and no more than 90 days in future.
3. Once all the requirements are fulfilled, Submit your app for review by Apple.
4. After your app has been reviewed and approved, navigate back to Pricing and Availability, and from there confirm the release date. Once done click on Release as Pre-Order.

Apple has decided to report pre-order apps as a part of the Sales and Trends section of iTunes Connect.

Further information relating pre-order can be read from the FAQ section.

As of now a Pre-Orders section has been added to the Games section in App Store where there are five games available for pre-order. However, no similarities are yet found on Mac App Store or Apple TV App Store.