Apple premieres App Store short links during 'Star Trek' Super Bowl trailer

February 4, 2013 | By Jason Ankeny

A new commercial spotlighting the upcoming Paramount Pictures feature Star Trek Into Darkness quietly introduced a new promotional tool for Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) developer partners: Customized App Store short links designed to make it easier for consumers to find and install iOS applications.

Star Trek Into Darkness

App Store short links leverage the AppStore.com base URL plus a specific form of the app or developer's company name. For example, the conclusion of the Star Trek Into Darkness trailer, which aired during Sunday's Super Bowl XLVII telecast, instructs viewers to "Get the exclusive app now," urging them to go to AppStore.com/StarTrekApp for details and information. The URL directs their iOS device browser to the Star Trek Into Darkness app download page.

"This provides a simple way for users to find your apps on the App Store directly from your website or marketing campaigns," Apple stated on an iOS Developer Library Technical Q&A page. "These short links are ideal for use in offline communications materials like print ads, TV spots, app trailers, radio ads and billboards."

All URLs are accessible worldwide and direct the customer to their respective country's App Store. To avoid name conflicts or other errors, URLs with multiple results (for example, <http://appstore.com/airhockey>) will return a search page. "Using unique names for your apps will help prevent this," Apple notes.

Short links were previously available using the itunes.com URL. "AppStore.com replaces itunes.com," Apple added. "iTunes.com links will continue to work but should be updated as soon as feasible."

The App Store now boasts more than 775,000 applications optimized for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, including 300,000 native iPad apps. More than 500 million consumers in 155 countries have active App Store accounts, and iOS app downloads now exceed 40 billion. Apple said last month that it has paid out more than $7 billion to its iOS developer partners.

For more:
- read this iOS Developer Library Technical Q&A page
- read this CNet article