The Business of iPhone App Development [Paperback]

Dave Wooldridge (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1430227338 | ISBN-13: 978-1430227335 | Publication Date: February 20, 2010 | Edition: 1

The Business of iPhone App Development is the book every iPhone and iPod touch developer NEEDS to own to maximize their chances for success on Apple’s iTunes App Store. This is the only guide devoted just to the business aspects of developing great iPhone.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Current bio is available online at http://www.ebutterfly.com/company..

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (February 20, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1430227338
• ISBN-13: 978-1430227335
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much-needed, comprehensive insight into the business of mobile, March 2, 2010

By 

Ron Diamond (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Business of iPhone App Development (Paperback)

In order to get a jump on this a few weeks ahead of print, I got the e-book version direct from Apress.

And what a treasure trove of great ideas & resources it is! Anyone interested in the business side of doing iPhone apps (and indeed, mobile apps in general) will find a lot of valuable info here.

In fact, this has to be one of the most comprehensive surveys of information & hard-won wisdom in the entire mobile sector (and much of this knowledge could certainly be applied to other platforms as well).

The author(s) cover an array of different topics, including:
- doing effective market research
- a great section on intellectual property and legal issues
- user interface design tips
- pricing strategies and case studies of different business models
- methods of distribution
- how to write an effective press release
- savvy marketing via web, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, et al
- and more ...

Moreover, they've have mapped out the chapters to correspond very logically into Planning / Development / Release phases ... and most importantly, the content consistently exudes experience and insight.

So, bottom line: I'd say this title is a no-brainer for anyone serious about doing business in the still-nascent -- and largely uncharted -- mobile space.

And as for me, I'm especially looking forward to perusing this little gem even more ... on my shiny new iPad. :)

Sweet!

~~~

Apress has created a number of great titles in just the past year or so, and if this is any indication of what's to come, they'll continue to be a preferred vendor for this kind of informative content.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Outdated info, November 4, 2010

By 

Branko Zabala - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Business of iPhone App Development (Paperback)

Pros:
Great information and tips on how to make and market your apps. It think the authors are right on the money and know what they are talking about.

Cons:
Reading the date of publication you might think that the book has updated information but it doesn't. It's like they wrote it back in 2008 and they published it after two years. You can't afford to take that long to publish a book (specially a tech book). Also, I skipped the the coding parts throughout the book, I think it should be either a programming book or a Business Book, not both.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The only iPhone Marketing book you will need!, April 1, 2010

By 

Laurence Koret (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Business of iPhone App Development (Paperback)

If you are like me, learning about the world of iPhone programming is an ongoing quest. I have been through numerous texts, and sadly, quite a few have fallen by the wayside. The good news is I think I've found the best book on this subject so far:' The Business of iPhone App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed by Dave Wooldridge published by Apress.

Don't look for the usual line-by-line code how-to. There are plenty of sources out there for this kind of thing. This book has some very useful bits of programming advice and sections of code, that I totally intend to use. Wooldridge knows his stuff, but the vast majority of his ideas cover marketing and how to position the Apps you make. You can man-up and make the juiciest app computing has ever known, but honestly - do you know how to get it out there? Beat the competition? Have foursquare rate you "King of the Lab?" No? Yeah, my point exactly. The only other book out there on the market covering this territory is Starting an iPhone Application Business For Dummies'' Yeah, Dummies. Mr. Wooldridge's book is vastly superior.'

Wooldridge gave me the useful intel right from Chapter 1. Here's a little nugget we all cannot do without: The book recommends to set-up your iTunes Connect Contract with Apple, even before your App is completed. If this isn't done Apple will not be able to pay you. Even though my App is not completed yet, I went ahead and did this step. I have high hopes for my little brainchild and so should you.

He gives absolutely priceless advice about naming your app. I won't give it away, but let's just say that any app named supercalifraglisticexpialidocious is doomed to the dustbin of app history

Free agents need to know their way around the business law pertaining to app development and the myriad ramifications involved the process including pricing. To charge or not to charge? That is the question. Wooldridge out of the kindness of his heart takes you there, and in-depth too. These chapters are survival manuals for working with freelance contractors and also companies outside your own.

Test accounts and the all important Submissions process are given a thorough run down before he introduces you to the world of marketing and buzz.' Twitter and Facebook are discussed as well as creating an appealing website that will be viewable on a iPhone. Also, discussed are more traditional means such as email marketing using Constant Contact.

The Business of iPhone App Development: Making and Marketing Apps that Succeed' Hey, I've got my copy. And I'm ahead of you on line. Now go get yours!''