App Store adds bulk discount, release control options

Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) continues to tweak its App Store digital marketplace, introducing a new Volume Purchase Program making it easier and more cost-effective for educational institutions to purchase and distribute iOS applications to students. The initiative enables schools to purchase Volume Vouchers in denominations ranging from $100 to $10,000--designated "Program Facilitators" (e.g., professors, teachers or principals) can redeem the vouchers via the Volume Purchase Program, acquiring multiple copies of the same app in one transaction. Registered App Store developers can also offer special bulk pricing discounts for purchases totaling 20 app downloads or more.

In related news, Apple unveiled Version Release control, enabling developers to push approved iOS software updates to the App Store at their discretion. Apple previously pushed out app updates the moment an upgrade was approved.

Last week, the App Store expanded to include a new 'Try Before You Buy' section spotlighting free, so-called "lite" versions of iPhone and iPod touch applications, The new section is essentially an organizational update, bringing together lite versions of popular iPhone games and navigation solutions in one dedicated spot--Apple has not introduced any new application trial features or related tweaks, despite continued calls from developers and consumers to add a 24-hour app return policy similar to the one offered in Google's rival Android Market.

For more on the new App Store upgrades:
- read this MobileCrunch article

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