How to optimise AppStore. Ideas

AppStore's success is so spectacular that it is actually burdensome to Apple and iPhone developers. How to successfully promote apps whose functionality is a bit more than just imitating indiscriminate human noises? There are already 35 thousand apps in the iPhone software store and navigation around it seems highly difficult. So far Apple has done little to make this navigation easier.

Developers' problem is to reach iPhone users with information about their apps. iPhone owners learn about them mainly from lists of the most popular apps already downloaded on iPhones. There are usually one-dollar apps whose functionality - let's face it - is none. However, in order to appear on the list with the most popular apps developers artificially lower the prices of their apps, which makes them less profitable. Lower revenues mean lower budget for potentially better apps. Vicious circle.

Apple seems to realise that the development of iPhone software does not depend on the popularity of such apps as iBeer or iFart and starts to make moves that aim at promoting more valuable applications. The list of promoted apps in iTunes's AppStore has been enlarged recently. There are now 100 apps presented in each category (previously 50). There are new categories such as "Staff Picks", "What's Hot" and "New and Noteworthy" as well. It seems however that these moves do not change much to both: iPhone users (they still need to flick through hundreds of mediocre apps) and developers (there is no mechanism that would promote more expensive but better applications).

What would Apple do next?

Genius

This feature brought by iTunes 8.0 makes it possible to music fans to discover new artists based on data collected from their own media library in comparison with other users of Apple's jukebox. Genius works better and better, more and more successfully suggests the direction with new musical impressions to music amateurs.

Apple could implement Genius for people browsing AppStore. Based on apps already installed on the iPhone, Genius would recommend new applications that appear in AppStore. This would help more advanced applications' users cut from - let's call them this way - entertainment apps. Developers would have easier access to their targets, too.

AppStore Premium

There is already an on-going discussion about the separation of AppStore's premium part with more advanced and expensive apps. Despite obvious advantages of this idea to iPhone developers who would find it easier to shape their pricing policies for iPhone apps, it would be maleficent in the long run from the end-users' point of view. Firstly, independent developers would be banned from the limelight (it would definitely be focused on AppStore Premium) and they would have fewer chances for spectacular successes. Secondly, big developers would find it too easy to raise prices of their products. This would hinder free competition and possibly push Apple into antimonopoly trials.

Apps Recommendation between iPhone Users

A good idea would be a recommendation system between iPhone users. It has been known for long that bouche-a-oreille (or buzz marketing) pays an important role in new technologies' popularity. The star evaluation system in AppStore is rather inefficient and quite often abused. The possibility to send recommendation of apps directly between iPhone users would help good apps live in consumers' awareness.

Week, Month, or Price Rankings

Apple would also change the presentation system of their "Top Paid" and "Top Free" lists into a more detailed one. What's wrong in presenting sales and download results on weekly or even daily basis? New apps would have more chances to appear on lists, which would also make them more exposed to new clients. Instead of AppStore Premium it could also be advisable to prepare rankings based on the prices of apps. More advanced applications that cost USD 10 would have a chance for higher attention of potential clients.

We will soon learn whether Apple introduces any of these ideas. It seems everybody no longer doubts AppStore needs optimalisation as far as transparency and navigation are concerned.