Apple Announces App Store Mini Apps Partner Program

[AlanBeyond]

Apple today announced the App Store Mini Apps Partner Program, allowing apps that host mini apps and mini games to support In-App Purchases.

The program is designed for developers who host mini apps and games within a larger, native app.



The mini apps must be not be controlled by the developer of the host app. Participating apps are also required to support certain App Store technologies, such as the Declared Age Range API and the Advanced Commerce API. To join the Mini Apps Partner Program, developers must submit a request form.

The program seemingly relates to Apple's deal with Tencent, allowing it to obtain commission on mini games and mini apps in China's WeChat.

Apple also updated its App Review Guidelines today, adding and clarifying a range of requirements, including the provision that "creator apps must provide a way for users to identify content that exceeds the app's age rating, use an age restriction mechanism based on verified or declared age to limit access by underage users."

Article Link: Apple Announces App Store Mini Apps Partner Program

mini apps are heavily used in China, super apps like WeChat provides over 100 million mini apps.

 

[The_Gream]

They should do it like Google:

• First $1 million of sales is 15%. It doesn't matter who you are, or what your sales are. If you make 10 million in sales, the first million is still 15%.
• It's automatic. You don't have to sign up and be approved, like you do with Apple.

Thanks. I am well aware of Googles business model.

Personally I am okay with Apple’s model. Sure not having to sign up is nice, but I am sure this does provide at least a little more protection against bad actors. Not 100%, but if you have to prove you are/have a business there’s a little more paper work to keep people honest.

Now, if only our law enforcement would draw and quarter those people who are bad actors and steal all your bit coins, things would be great (sarcasm)

 

[The_Gream]

Maybe Apple should just get rid of the 30% if that's limited in who gets subjected to it?
Seems like an easy PR win.

Write Tim Cook an email a suggest that to him. Pretty sure his email is public knowledge

 

[bruhsfx2]

This is for super apps like WeChat (China) and the proposed future of X (Twitter) that Musk envisioned. You can read books, listen to music, play games inside those apps.
Apple used to be very upset about this as WeChat essentially becomes a marketplace that resides on iOS. But oh well, if you ban WeChat, you get 0 sale in China.

 

[needsomecoffee]

So if a developer has a Progressive Web App available to install via the web, they can now wrap it in something like Electron and make it available via the App Store ?? Genuine question as I distribute a free PWA, and had some early success via the App Store when Apple allowed Adobe Air compiles to be distributed. I ported to a PWA** when Apple disallowed anything other thax XCode compiles (Adobe Air not being too far from html/js for the complex stuff). Thx, NSC

** Never charged a penny for the app, nor spent a penny marketing it (guess that would have to be a "nickel" now).

 

[bruhsfx2]

So if a developer has a Progressive Web App available to install via the web, they can now wrap it in something like Electron and make it available via the App Store ?? Genuine question as I distribute a free PWA, and had some early success via the App Store when Apple allowed Adobe Air compiles to be distributed. I ported to a PWA when Apple disallowed anything other thax XCode compiles (Adobe Air not being too far from html/js for the complex stuff). Thx, NSC

No. It's not like this.

YouTube mobile app has a feature called Playables, which essentially is HTML mini games, and you submit your mini game to YouTube. If YouTube were to allow monetisation and you charge $1 for a revival, then Apple would be getting 15c of a cut if the transaction is made on iOS.

This addresses the issue of how Apple gets commission from super apps. You still can't submit a PWA wrapper app to App Store, but in future maybe you can submit your app to X (when it becomes the WeChat equivalent in the West).