Apple Raises Product and Developer Program Prices in Some Countries

[MacRumors]

With the new year, Apple has made a few price adjustments to its products and services, led by an increased yearly fee for the company's developer programs in a number of European countries, as first noticed by German blog Apfelpage [Google Translate].

The Apple-focused blog reports that German developers are now facing a EUR99 ($119) per year subscription charge for Apple's various developer programs, up from a previous EUR80 ($96) subscription fee. The price changes presumably affect all EU markets, as Apple typically has consistent pricing across member countries except for occasional differences due to variations in tax rates. Apple's developer programs are priced at $99 per year in the United States.

The price increase is also in effect for the UK, where the price has been adjusted from £60 ($92) a year to £79 ($121) as noted by 9to5Mac. Across the board, the European developer program has been about on par with or slightly above the cost in the U.S. when adjusted for currency rates. Following the weakening of many world currencies compared to the U.S. dollar in recent months, however, Apple's price increases in those countries will help reset the company's desired pricing matrix but increase costs somewhat for developers overseas.

Elsewhere, the prices of Apple physical products are seeing slight hikes in a few countries. Apple Toolbox reports Apple has increased the price of products like the Mac, iPhone, and iPod in Turkey, a country where the company's products are already among the highest priced in the world. And the increase in prices may not stop there, as the Turkish Minister of Economy recently announced a plan to gain favor for products made in Turkey by introducing taxes on imported smartphones, computers, and tablets.

A MacRumors reader has also pointed out that the Norwegian people will be facing higher prices for Apple products, with the new iMac with Retina 5K Display and iPhone 6 seeing 8.3 and 12 percent increases respectively. The MacBook Pro with Retina Display received the biggest price jump, going from 10,790 kr to 12,590 kr, roughly a 14 percent increase in the cost of the device.

Apple has been known to adjust the price of its products alongside fluctuating currency values, most drastically just last month when the Russian ruble saw a sharp drop in value, causing the company to temporarily shut down its Russian online store and return with significant price hikes days later.

Though far less dramatic, these price inflations seen in other parts of the world appear due to the weakening of the Turkish lira and Norwegian krone in recent months. Even so, it's not entirely clear why the company instituted the price change to these select few foreign markets, and whether or not other countries could see a similar price hike in the future, as many other currencies have also been weakening against the U.S. dollar.

Article Link: Apple Raises Product and Developer Program Prices in Some Countries

 

[nepalisherpa]

Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.

 

[Reason077]

I suspect this has to do with new cross-border sales tax rules in the EU which have just come into effect.

"Information for businesses who make cross-border supplies of digital services to consumers in other EU member states. From 1 January 2015 the place of taxation for these digital services will be the location of the consumer, not the location of the business supplying the service."

 

[usersince86]

This fits Apple's historical plan. Not complaining, just making an observation. Quality (and profits) over quantity. It's just one of the differences between Apple and others (eg, Samsung).

 

[Goldfinger]

I suspect this has to do with new cross-border sales tax rules in the EU which have just come into effect.

"Information for businesses who make cross-border supplies of digital services to consumers in other EU member states. From 1 January 2015 the place of taxation for these digital services will be the location of the consumer, not the location of the business supplying the service."

Possibly yes. But, Apple, after all these years, keeps refusing to provide proper invoices in Europe with zero rated VAT. (impossible to buy something from the iTunes/Mac store with an invoice, which is IMHO illegal.)
This shouldn't be a problem for businesses. As the standard procedure of zero rating intra community invoices still applies. But Apple doesn't do this.

The new rules only apply to B2C AFAIK. Not for B2B. But I can be wrong.

 

[Fzang]

Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.

While I partly agree with this, you can bet that a lot of people get into developing for the sake of putting some rubbish into the App Store hoping to make a quick buck. Without this rather steep entry level pricing we might have more trash in the App Store than we do now.

 

[icanhazapple]

Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.

Xcode is free.

 

[gnasher729]

Developer program should be free. They already make money off of ads and app prices.

This isn't about the money. This is about having a separation between developers who are not willing to pay anything (that's my home account), and developers who are serious enough to pay cash for a developer account (that's my company's account).

 

[MH01]

I'd have no issues if apple adjusted the prices when the U.S dollar falls, they do not, but are one of the first to put up prices when the dollar goes up. Profit profit profit. I agree with others, it should be free, or close to it, it's the developers that are a huge part of apples success.

----------

This isn't about the money. This is about having a separation between developers who are not willing to pay anything (that's my home account), and developers who are serious enough to pay cash for a developer account (that's my company's account).

If it was not about the money they would not be raising the prices due to a stronger dollar! Of course it's about the money, in relation to this tread.

 

[Paradoxally]

This isn't about the money. This is about having a separation between developers who are not willing to pay anything (that's my home account), and developers who are serious enough to pay cash for a developer account (that's my company's account).

It is stupid that learning devs have to pay $99 to even be able to run their app on their devices without any workaround methods. Sure, you can buy a provisioning profile and UDID registration for $8-9 from some websites, but it's not the same thing.

They should only make you pay when you want to publish apps, not run them internally.

 

[nightstalkerz]

Anyone in the UK get a confirmation to accept the new terms and conditions when you try to download an app?

I did just a few minutes ago and when I accepted, the App Store just hangs.

 

[MisakixMikasa]

This fits Apple's historical plan. Not complaining, just making an observation. Quality (and profits) over quantity. It's just one of the differences between Apple and others (eg, Samsung).

I only see the rising price part (aka: rising profits), I do not see quality part. Somehow you related rising price and good quality.

 

[cambookpro]

A bit inconvenient, but can't really complain as with tax it puts the UK price roughly on par with the US one.

Just means I'll have to find an extra £20 from somewhere when it comes to renewing. I wish Apple would offer some kind of student discount for a developer license, although £79 isn't a lot of money it means some talented students probably aren't publishing their apps due to the cost.

Maybe there could also be a reduced price license for free apps. I paid £60 but have earned £0.00 from my app, literally paying just so it shows up in the App Store and I can run it on my device at home.

 

[foobarbaz]

I'd have no issues if apple adjusted the prices when the U.S dollar falls, they do not, but are one of the first to put up prices when the dollar goes up. Profit profit profit.

The Developer Program and the App Store was created in 2008. Since then the USD (in EUR) hasn't once (!) fallen below that point. Instead, most of this time Apple has swallowed the difference.

In fact, if you subtract (e.g.) 19% the taxes from 80€, you get just 82$. (US listed prices don't include taxes.) So US developers had to pay 18$ more than EU developers. And now it's roughly equal again.

I agree with others, it should be free, or close to it, it's the developers that are a huge part of apples success.

Without this rather steep entry level pricing we might have more trash in the App Store than we do now.

I can assure you that 99€/year is anything but steep compared to other costs of software development. To anybody who's doing this for a living, it really is close to free.

 

[gnasher729]

TI can assure you that 99€/year is anything but steep compared to other costs of software development. To anybody who's doing this for a living, it really is close to free.

To anyone doing this for a living, it's tax deductible.

 

[Mortis360]

For Norways sake, its due to the Norwegian krone is less worth, compared to the US Dollar, Euro and GB Pounds, due to the fall in oil price, compared to the US Dollar it have declined almost 30% this year, when I compare the US prices, and add VAT at 25%, its almost the new prices, with only a few dollars in difference.

 

[bbeagle]

Without this rather steep entry level pricing we might have more trash in the App Store than we do now.

In what world is $100 'rather steep'?

$100 is EXTREMELY cheap. What, are you planning on only making $20 on your apps, that $100 is expensive?

PS4 development program cost: $2500
Xbox One development program cost: $500

It's just that Android came along for free, and now everyone expects EVERYTHING to be free.

 

[mazecookie]

It is stupid that learning devs have to pay $99 to even be able to run their app on their devices without any workaround methods. Sure, you can buy a provisioning profile and UDID registration for $8-9 from some websites, but it's not the same thing.

They should only make you pay when you want to publish apps, not run them internally.

That is, and always has been the case.

Anybody can download Xcode, make apps, and put them on their own devices for free. The developer program is to have the capability to publish them to the app store.

 

[Nagy Dávid]

In Hungary this will cost $125. Awesome.

 

[The Doctor11]

Its stupid to charge people to make apps for your platform let alone raise prices for making apps for your platform.

 

[pnvgordinho]

In what world is $100 'rather steep'?

$100 is EXTREMELY cheap. What, are you planning on only making $20 on your apps, that $100 is expensive?

PS4 development program cost: $2500
Xbox One development program cost: $500

It's just that Android came along for free, and now everyone expects EVERYTHING to be free.

Its not just the fact that android costs 25 bucks(not free), its that Wonderfull thing that you can try your app/game without the license and thats HUGE.
I agree with the fact that 100 bucks per year is not much for a company or a developer that makes thousands on sales but for a small developer its a lot and if apple would keep the apps after the license ended, would be great but not even that they do.
The license should be free. They can make money on the iphone, on the ipad, on the imac that I bought from them. And lets not forget the 30% cut of every sale. I wish I was a big company and I wouldn't make apps or games for iOS until they make the license free. Strike!.

 

[Ironduke]

Dirty filthy beggers

 

[Zxxv]

A bit inconvenient, but can't really complain as with tax it puts the UK price roughly on par with the US one.

Just means I'll have to find an extra £20 from somewhere when it comes to renewing. I wish Apple would offer some kind of student discount for a developer license, although £79 isn't a lot of money it means some talented students probably aren't publishing their apps due to the cost.

Maybe there could also be a reduced price license for free apps. I paid £60 but have earned £0.00 from my app, literally paying just so it shows up in the App Store and I can run it on my device at home.

That doesn't make one bit of sense. If a developer is talented they write the cost off in the business model. i.e. the app sales pay for the developer license and seeing as they are talented its easy to achieve.

 

[PsykX]

$100 is EXTREMELY cheap.

PS4 development program cost: $2500
Xbox One development program cost: $500

I somehow agree that $100 is not a lot in our world (I know a few friends who wouldn't agree with us on this one). The problem is in two places :
1. Devs who simply want to leave their app on the app store without really generating any profit
2. The young geniuses who wish to develop on iOS, but who don't have the money and whose parents don't believe in them. This could have been the case with me (not the genius part though) - as my parents always thought I was crazy with my projects, which discouraged me a few times, yet some of them did see the light of day.

 

[niw3]

That is, and always has been the case.

Anybody can download Xcode, make apps, and put them on their own devices for free. The developer program is to have the capability to publish them to the app store.

You cannot put your apps on your own device for free, without jailbreaking. For free, you can run on the simulator only.