Apple App Store Enables Gifting In-App Purchases For Holiday Season

Apple has tweaked its App Store Review Guidelines to allow consumers to gift in-app purchases to one another in line with the season of gift-giving.

The tweak Apple made basically enables developers to implement a new feature within their apps that would allow users to purchase in-app content and gift them to other users, MacRumors first reported.

Prior the change, Apple was very strict when it comes to not allowing any type of gifting within apps. “Apps should not directly or indirectly enable gifting of in-app purchase content, features, or consumable items to others,” the previous guideline read.

But now the changed guideline reads, “Apps may enable gifting of items that are eligible for in-app purchase to others. Such gifts may only be refunded to the original purchaser and may not be exchanged.”

Despite the modified guideline, there’s still no app that’s offering in-app gifts as of writing. AppleInsider believes that Tim Cook’s firm is still working on the technology that would allow this in its apps. By lifting restrictions, Apple’s given third-party app developers something to work on and deliver for the holiday season.

From the looks of things, the feature could go live in many apps by Christmas. During this day and the day after, App Store downloads skyrocket because many people receive new iPhones, iPads and App Store gift cards as presents.

For now, it’s not really clear how this gifting feature works. It’s possible that Apple could be adding a new in-app purchase gifting option as part of the App Store interface. It’s also possible that the option would be embedded into the apps. Whatever may be the case, Apple will surely send out instructions and new information about the gifting feature to developers.

Developers must then rush to implement the new feature since iTunes Connect is scheduled to temporarily halt operations from Dec. 23 to 27. The shutdown will give Connect staff the chance to celebrate Christmas with their families and loved ones. However, this also means that developers must submit app updates and critical fixes beforehand, so they could go live prior the shutdown.