[Big Mac]

Okay, that tears it, I'm going to start devoting my spare time to frivolous iPhone application development:

Apple's broadening of App Store acceptances has opened the door to a number of new novelty applications including InfoMedia's iFart Mobile [App Store]. The $0.99 humor application has rapidly seen success and has rocketed up to the #1 App Sales slot.

Most interesting is that the developer of the app has been very transparent about his sales numbers during his app's climb in ranking. From a previous blog post:

12/14 - 841 units - #76 overall
12/15 - 1510 units - #39 overall
12/16 - 1797 units - #22 overall
12/17 - 2836 units - #15 overall
12/18 - 3086 units - #10 overall
12/19 - 3117 units - #9 overall
12/20 - 5497 units, - #4 overall

He's since revealed to us the most recent sales numbers for the last couple of days which includes the coveted #1 spot on the App Store's Top 100 sales.

12/21 - 9760 units, #2 overall
12/22 - 13274 units, #1 overall

After Apple's 30% cut, that means the iFart Mobile is generated $9198 in one day.

These sales numbers are especially interesting to developers looking at the potential market for their iPhone apps. From what we've heard from developers, however, these targets do constantly change and have been growing. So app sales for the #1 spot will likely increase over time as the installed market of iPhones and iPod touches continue to increase.

[64stang06]

I know people that pay up to $2.99 per 10 second ringtone through other carriers, so this is no surprise to me.

[turtle777]

I refuse to buy sh!t like this.

But it seems like, despite the bad economy, people still waste their money on crap. Absoutely amazing.

-t

[Eug]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

I refuse to buy sh!t like this.

Not quite sh!t. It just smells like it.

[Big Mac]

This app should serve as inspiration to all of us to start profiting off of the iStore.

[Dakar V]

30% cut is freakin' ridiculous.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

30% cut is freakin' ridiculous.

Why? Apple hosts it and distributes it.

P.S. When the App Store for the iPhone/iPod touch came out, and I saw lots of people paying $2.99 for some stupid beer pouring app, I kicked myself for not doing that minor in computer science.

[Dakar V]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Why? Apple hosts it and distributes it.

Somehow I doubt the process is 30% arduous.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

Somehow I doubt the process is 30% arduous.

Perhaps not, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was say 20%. If so, 10% for profit on Apple's part is more than reasonable.

How else would the guy sell $13000 a day worth of fart noises?

[Maflynn]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

30% cut is freakin' ridiculous.

I saw a chart over at ars a little while ago detailing how much a vendor takes.

Apple appears to be smack in the middle.
Apple 30%
T-Mobile (android phone) 30%
RIM 20%
Palm 50%

given Palm's sliding market share, financial woes and likelihood of not surviving 2009, I think 50% is a huge amount and enough to keep most developers from focusing on their new (and unnamed/unreleased) phone.

[Spheric Harlot]

Originally Posted by Dakar V 

30% cut is freakin' ridiculous.

Considering that the cut is the exact same for every application, regardless of how much it sells, and that the initial paperwork for Apple is the exact same, regardless of how much it sells, and bandwidth still costs money, however little, I think it's a fair deal.


And one thing that needs to be noted is that there is NO WAY this app would garner this many sales if it hadn't gained prominence through its news-worthy rejection a few months ago. And now, it's getting *great* publicity once again.

Had that not happened, this app would have sunk like a stone, and *maybe* made a hundred bucks.

Way lucky break.