ComboApp

There is no precise number for how many app developers in the iOS ecosystem but given that WWDC 2013 conference was tighy packed we can make an educated assumption - it’s more than 5,000 for sure :-) Seriously speaking the number of registered developers in US alone is 275,000! Unfortunately as with any business it’s impossible to have a situation when all developers are equally doing great with their app development business. Some of them had their moment of glory but then things turned out bad by various reasons, some from the day one couldn’t manage to “catch their stream” well and since then they struggle with their apps portfolio.

There is a good news for both - Apple has introduced the way to transfer app(s) and here are the number of rules and current limitations, that have been digged up from the iTunes Connect:

• The app can't be using an iCloud entitlement or a Passbook entitlement.
• All iAd accounts must be properly established and up to date.
• Apple has to have approved at least one version of the app.
• The app being transferred can't have any auto-renewable subscription, free subscription, or non-renewing subscription in-app purchases. "Even if you have had subscriptions that were approved in the past, but were deleted, the app is not currently eligible for App Transfer," according to the documentation.
• The app being transferred can't have any of the same in-app purchase Product IDs as the apps in the recipient's account.
• The app must be set to one of the following states: Ready for Sale; Pending Contract; Prepare for Upload; Developer Removed from Sale; Invalid Binary; Developer Rejected; or Rejected. In-app purchases must be in one of the following states: Approved; Ready to Submit; Developer Removed from Sale; or Rejected.

The transfer procedure will look like:

• A team agent with a valid Apple ID and team ID can initiate the transfer by clicking the Transfer App button on the App Summary page. iTunes Connect will verify that the app meets all the appropriate criteria.
• The agent enters the Apple ID of the recipient's Team Agent, as well as the company or organization ID. Finally, you verify the transfer information and terms and click "Request Transfer."

During the transfer process, the app stays at its assigned status, but the "Pending App Transfer" status is added. The owner can still change the price of the app during this time.
The recipient will receive an alert that the transfer has been initiated and has 60 days to approve or it will be automatically canceled. The recipient will also have to enter new metadata, such as a new support URL, Atom Feed URL, marketing URL, privacy policy URL, and contact information. Completing the app transfer can take up to two days.

The source code and binary are not included in the transfer process with iTunes Connect; they must be transferred separately. Apple recommends that the recipient requests information about any special app functionality, such as keychain details or push notifications, so as to maintain the app's functionality with future updates.
Also, during the app-transfer process, certain actions may automatically take place if the app is associated with any others. For example, apps that were part of a cross-app Multiplayer Compatibility Matrix will not long be compatible, nor will they appear in the other app's matrix. Apps that are part of a Game Center group will be removed from the group during the transfer; when the process is completed, the leaderboards and achievements revert to their original status.

ComboApp mobile app marketing agency