Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPhone, App Store
More App Store sales figures
Last week, iPhone app shop tap tap tap released preliminary sales data for its iPhone applications. The figures were interesting (and impressive), but at the time, only seven days of data was available. As Steve Jobs told the Wall Street Journal on Monday, the App Store's first month generated about $30 million US in sales, and I was interested in how that would translate on a micro level. Yesterday, tap tap tap's John Casasanta posted its full July sales totals (save a few territories, which will likely have little effect on the final tally), allowing us to do just that.As with the data released last week, the numbers are extremely impressive. Apple's reporting process calculated sales from June 29, 2008 through August 2, 2008. However, as John notes, because the App Store didn't launch until July 10, 2008, the sales data is actually for 24 days.
For tap tap tap's two applications, this is the breakdown:
Where to Go (App Store link) sold 24,094 copies at $2.99 a copy in 24 days.
Tipulator (App Store link) sold 3,168 copies at $.99 a copy in 24 days.
After Apple's 30% cut, tap tap tap's net revenue was $52,815 US for 24 days. Wow. That averages to just about $2200 US a day.
Read on for more analysis.
Unfortunately, tap tap tap doesn't have complete access to full sales metrics for the sales period (apparently, Apple's reporting system only shows the individual sales data for the previous seven days, with the oldest data rolling off each new day), so for the first month anyway, it's impossible to actually pinpoint sales trends. In subsequent months, assuming developers gather the report data each day, daily metrics can be better analyzed.
As John points out in his blog, sales rank appears to have an enormous effect on overall sales viability. Because the iPhone App Store interface only shows the top 50 applications, following below that threshold can significantly impact sales. John opines that dropping below the top 100 (which is what iTunes will display in the "top" section) pretty much equals application purgatory.
This makes sense -- at least for developers seeking sustainable high sales rates -- and will probably prove more prescient as more and more developers and applications enter the App Store. Even more than it already is now, visibility will become the name of the game. I'm also interested in the effect the iPhone's launch in 22 additional countries next week will have on developers who are in the store now -- especially for those developers that are bordering or below that top 50 line.
I'm enjoying watching the App Store develop and evolve as a marketplace. Sound off with your thoughts in the comments.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
totoro said 2:58PM on 8-14-2008
What is most impressive (to me) about those sales figures? I've never even heard of those apps, except thru the posts about how much money they've made. (I thought Tap Tap was the Tap Tap Revolution guys at first-sorry Tapulous! )
Reply
Neil said 3:05PM on 8-14-2008
I think it is becoming more and more evident that iPhone / iPod touch users will buy a whole lot of useless crap without thinking about it.
Of course, these figures can only really go down from here as the market becomes saturated with these applications. There are only so many people who want a tip calculator. Hey, we survived for years without one, why do we need one now?
Reply
totoro said 3:32PM on 8-14-2008
"Of course, these figures can only really go down from here"
Really? There are maybe 6-7 million iPhones right now.
There will be twice that many by the end of 2008.
The iPhone is selling faster than the App Store is saturating, so far :p
LuminousNerd said 4:15PM on 8-14-2008
Hmm, I don't know, maybe because it makes our lives easier? And as for other apps, if they can provide laughs and entertainment, they're worth $5 or whatever.
I am so sick of people like you casting their judgement against apps and people who buy those apps because in your mind, it's "useless". Well it's NOT useless, and you're WRONG. Developers have a right to make money!!! It's a store, not a freeware database.
And if I'm willing to pay the price, then it's worth that price! No matter how easy it was to make, or how much better a competing app may be, if I am willing to pay for it, that makes it worth it.
So just stfu and quit 1-starring apps with reviews that amount to "dis shood b fr33"
Kory said 3:25PM on 8-14-2008
@Neil
True, but one thing to keep in mind is, sure, the AppStore is new and people are going to get over the newness of it all, but that's just the CURRENT iPhone users. As more and more and more (millions) of people migrate to the iPhone from whatever phone they were on before, my guess is the numbers may actually grow.
But who knows.
Reply
Jonathan Watmough said 6:31PM on 8-14-2008
Like the start of the 8-bit computer revolution, the weekly publication of simple games at a lowish price-point hits a real sweet spot.
I think we're just seeing the start of what people are prepared to spend. They may become more discerning, but software will improve, and more iphones will be sold.
Reply
mcdj said 9:40PM on 8-14-2008
oh man I have this great idea for a flashlight that calculates tips!
Reply