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This week, Google is having a sale in the Android Market to celebrate the 10 billionth download of an app from the Market. Each day for 10 days, 10 apps are on sale for 10¢. Android Apps on Sale
You may be wondering why Google would bother charging 10¢ for an app. Why not just give away the apps for free to avoid payment processing fees.
The reason to charge such a nominal fee could be to encourage Android users, who might otherwise never pay for an app, to lower their defenses against paying for an app and cough up their credit card information. Some people won’t spend money on apps, even 99¢. Will they open their wallets for 10¢ apps?
A report by Piper Jaffrey analyst Gene Munster last month stated that Apple has commanded 85-90% of the market share of paid apps. Munster estimated that 14% of the apps in the iTunes App Store were paid while only 1.3% of apps in the Android Market were paid. (See, CNet Despite growth, Google trails Apple in app dollars spent) Is the fire sale pricing of major apps such as SwiftKey X and Shazam due to generosity on the part of Google or a tactic to increase the percentage of paid Android apps?
Have you ever paid for an app? Vote in today’s poll and let us know!
What would/does it take for you to pay money for an app? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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If you’re looking for Android Live Wallpaper that will transport you to a tranquil scene, check out My Beach HD, on sale for 10¢ with the 10 Billion Downloads app promotion. The app is much more than a beach scene with rolling waves. You can customize the wallpaper with settings such as Private Beach, Family Outing and Night Fireworks. You can even enter your own text on the sign at the beach.
You can find the app in the Android Market here: My Beach HD.
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Sales on iTunes apps today are plentiful as well. Flight Control and Flight Control HD are free today only.
Electronics Arts is offering many of its high-quality gaming apps on sale today, such as Tetris, Monopoly, Clue, Mirror’s Edge and Scrabble.
Search for iTunes apps on sale at ZoomAppy.
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Don’t forget today is the day when you can get a 5% discount on certain items through using Amazon Price Check app. (see, Amazon Price Check Special And SwiftKey X For 10¢!)
The marketing strategy is interesting. I would be annoyed at having to mess around giving debit or credit card info for a 10 cents sale. I tried to buy a £100 premium Bond today and it took 15 minutes. hey wanted a password with a upper case character, lower case character, number and a special character. I have no chance of remembering that! Then my fathers birthday – no idea – he’s been dead for 40 years! My brother’s birthday and middle name. Why grand father’s occupation on my mothers side! Why is Britain in a mess? This is of course a government website and most of the bonds and accounts are not available. I want to win the lottery tonight; the premium bond is just a back up plan 🙂
Hi Mike, I agree, I find the business decisions in this industry fascinating. So much of what we get is free in tech that we have become unaccustomed to having to pay for services. How that is changed for the future will be very interesting to watch.
Good luck with the lottery today!
Sounds great Carolyn!
Love the fact that there are so many sales on in the Android Market by Google, and they sure don’t sound that costly at all. I do wish I had an Android, would surely have gone in for something or the other. 🙂
Honestly speaking, I have never paid for any application so far and hardly indulge in them due to lack of time. But if I did find something worth while, I would be more than willing to spend a little 🙂 My Beach HD sure looks wonderful as well !
Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful information and links. Always a pleasure to learn something new from your site 🙂
Hi Harleena, I love the Beach HD Live Wallpaper. I just grabbed it so I don’t know how much it taxes my battery life, but I’m thinking not that much because the only motion is the waves rolling in and out.. I love the different themes. Private beach makes it look like you’re visiting the beach at sunset. So relaxing!
I’m so glad you enjoy learning about tech, Harleena! 🙂
I am fond of my iPhone but these offers for androids at 10C are tempting. I frequently buy apps (mostly photography) when my daughter recommends them and I have never been disappointed.
Have a lovely weekend, Carolyn!
Hi Barbara, You would also like Amazon’s Free Android App of the Day in their Appstore. I got Swift Key X for free there. But iPhone apps are on sale often as well.
Photography apps are fantastic. I have a bunch of them and love what they do to pictures. It’s fun to play around with the effects.
You have a great weekend too, Barbara!
Technically never purchased apps from android market, but during this promo I am using it bought almost 5 apps till now.. Hope to see some more good & useful apps and also some games for Android..
Hi Rohit, Interesting. You’re a new paying customer for the Android Market, which is what I believe Google’s goal was in running this sale. Keep checking back in the Android Market to see what new apps they have during the course of this sale! 🙂
Both yes and a no, because I run a top tech blog with over 50000 visitors I get apps to review. I only purchase apps that I personally need.
I’ve paid for apps before. .99 cents, psychologically, barely feels like a blip – it’s less than I pay for my morning coffee (that is scarfed down in just a few minutes!) I think I would hesitate to pay much more than $5. Don’t think I’ve crossed that threshold. I think the results of your poll are interesting – the overwhelming majority of folks has paid for an app before.
Hi Ruth, Yes, you’re right, the results are very interesting. I was very surprised too, but I’m often surprised by the results of Wonder of Tech polls.
I agree with you, the cost of most apps is very inexpensive. When my kids want to get a Nintendo Wii or DS game, I truly appreciate how inexpensive apps are! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
I have not paid for an app in a long time. The last time I think was for a ringtone. Remember the days when buying a ringtone for 99cents was a big hit as it is now with apps? The app generation has exploded within the last years – there’s even a curriculum in web design and interactive media at universities targeted to creating apps.
Thanks for sharing the cool new stuff!
Hi Ryan, Good news! You can still buy ringtones at iTunes for 99 cents! It’s much cheaper to make them yourself or get an app with ringtones, but iTunes still sells them individually.
iTunes also has a course from Stanford University on iPhone and iPad app development. It’s at iTunes U for free! 🙂
I pay for apps all the time. It’s more like I never download free apps, because I keep thinking paid apps are better (I know that’s not necessarily true) 🙂
Hi Jens, There is something to be said for that. Paid apps may be better because the developer puts more work into them, hoping for financial returns. But there are plenty of wonderful free apps too, such as Zite!
It’s interesting to see the difference in iTunes reviews between an app that’s free and one that is paid. Sometimes the paid app reviews are more harsh because the reviewers expect more for their money. Other times the free app reviews are more harsh because anyone can download the app and then slam it in a review. You can’t always trust reviews in iTunes!
Wow, that will definitely increase their market share again. And to answer your question i bought an app that helps me to manage my core processes better. It really worth the money.
Hi Radu, I’m glad you’re pleased with your purchase. That makes you much more likely to purchase apps in the future, I bet! 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
These are some interesting facts I didn’t know. Though I usually try to find free apps but some apps are worth paying for.
Hi Faran, You’re right, free apps are great, but it’s even better when you find one that’s worth paying for! 🙂
This is the first time I have visited your site and I am amazed at the amount, the value and the clarity of the information you have provided.
Hello Sports Resume Templates, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I’m so glad you found this site and are finding it helpful. Do come back soon! 🙂
I like the iTunes app AppsGoneFree which lists 4-5 apps that are free each day. It gives a quick write up as well as the overall star reviews.
Hi cho cho, What a great app! Thank you for sharing this, I just downloaded it. This app may very well be reviewed in a future Wonder of Tech. Stay tuned!
I base my buying decisions for paid apps exactly the way I do for any other product – is it worth the money – with one big exception. It’s so darned easy to click “buy” and download a $2 app on the couch that I buy more apps than products that require me to go to a store or log onto a web site, etc. etc. But it still comes down to value. I paid $10 for Keynote because I do all my presentations on my iPad and iPhone – 40 or more in the last 18 months.
Hi Gary, That’s so true! I go on app shopping sprees too. It’s especially enticing to buy apps when you’re relaxing on the couch and happen upon app sales. My resistance is much lower then, for some reason.
$10 sounds expensive until you realize that the price sounds low for buying software on a CD. If the app is useful, the app is much more of a bargain than that 99¢ app you never open. You’ve made great use of Keynote, that $10 was a savvy investment!
Kind of sounds like Google is trying to catch up with iTunes, maybe just a little!
You know I’m not all that knowledgeable about all of this but I have finally purchased some apps, upon your recommendation, for my iPod. But, someone oh so kind gave me a gift certificate for my birthday over at iTunes so I guess you know where this woman will be shopping! 🙂
Thanks Carolyn for always keeping us informed of who is doing what!
Hi Adrienne, I’m so glad you have been able to get some apps you have liked for your iPod Touch! As much as people rave about devices, it’s the apps that make the devices so useful and fun. 🙂
You are so right Carolyn, it’s really the apps that make the device. I mean can you really do a lot without them?
I have to tell you that I went to my Mom’s this morning to help her with a computer issue. I spoke to a young man who works for Compaq and since I had to wait for the computer to do it’s thing we got to talking. He’s a tech guy and wants to start a blog and I raved about what you are doing here. So, watch out girl. You may have some competition soon. 🙂
So true, Adrienne. The iPhone wasn’t much before the iTunes App Store was launched. It came with a few pre-installed apps, the same ones it comes with now – YouTube, Stocks, Weather, etc., but other phones had more apps available. That’s why I think developers should be recognized as much as Apple for the success of the iPhone and iPad.
Uh oh, another tech blog! Maybe I should retire now? :-0
I know I am in a minority here but if I see 2 apps that do the same thing and one costs £1 I will usually buy it as I am convinced it will do a better job and not be killed by advertising. It it was more expensive then it would be a different story!
I love apps providing that they offer some value to me. The latest one I just paid for was called Photo 365 from a fellow blogger and it’s awesome. I won’t pay too much for an app that might not live up to it’s potential, so reading reviews is a must for me. The worse the review, the less inclined I am to purchase it.