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I would like to know how to make an iPad app for free for users buying a Mac app, via the appstore.

My goal is to do a promotion like "Buy Mac app and get an iPad app for free!"

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Welcome to Ask Different! Questions about programming, development, and listing your apps on the App Store are off topic for Ask Different. This includes iTunes Connect, and any thing to do with giving people discounts through iTunes. Please take a look at the FAQs for more info. Thanks. – Nathan Greenstein♦ Dec 12 '11 at 23:54

closed as off topic by Nathan Greenstein♦ Dec 12 '11 at 23:54

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3 Answers

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I guess you'll be limited to the 50 (?) promo code you can generate per each version of your iPad app. Sorry.

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These promo codes, are they single use only? I want to be sure that nobody will give his promo code to anybody else. Or, do you have a different approach to do what i want? Thx – peterphonic Dec 7 '11 at 14:37
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They are limited to 50 per version. And then you get more at the next version. But there is no automated way to hand these out. – jmlumpkin Dec 7 '11 at 15:35
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They are single use. They could give the code away, but they would not be able to redeem it twice. Edit: as for the approach: if you accept not to be on the Mac App Store you could build a code generator in your iPad app. The code could then be used as a serial (or discount code) of your Mac App. – Gio Dec 7 '11 at 15:42
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I'll suggest using a database on your website. When you buy the MAS version of the app you need to register it, this creates an entry in your DB that sets up the user has having purchased the app.

Now when they download the iDevice version of your app they're required to enter credentials that can be used to verify them against your web database. If they match up with what they entered when they set up their web account using the MAS-purchased app you let them use the iDevice app. If not, show them the screen that tells them how to buy it from the MAS first.

This a slight twist on how subscription-based apps like LastPass operate their iDevice offerings. As long as you're a LastPass premium subscriber, the iDevice apps (which are free) work. Stop subscribing and the iDevice apps stop working as they're a "premium user" feature.

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By using this, I suspect you could also have the iOS app as a freemium type app, where the download is free, but you could unlock extra/main functionality via in-app purchase (if you don't have the Mac app) or using the Mac app purchase data. – Lizzan Dec 8 '11 at 6:43
@Lizzan absolutely. Solid ideas. – Ian C.♦ Dec 8 '11 at 16:18
Clever idea, but I wouldn't be surprised if Apple doesn't accept applications using this model. – patrix♦ Dec 12 '11 at 18:05
@patrix this is exactly how apps like LastPass operate now so Apple is okay with this approach. – Ian C.♦ Dec 12 '11 at 18:35
up vote 1 down vote

The only way is to make your iPad app a Free app.

Redeem codes are limited to 50 per version, and your agreement with Apple may restrict their use.

You can buy and gift a Paid app to someone, even your own app. In the case of your own app, you will eventually get about 70% of the price back from Apple.

There is no reliable way for a developer to identify anyone who gets an App store app in any way, either by purchase, redemption code, or gift.

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