Maya Robertson
Apple announced today that App Store customers spent over $1.8 billion throughout the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Most of the in-app purchases were made on games, the company noted. On New Year’s Day alone, customers spent a record amount of $540 million.
“Now more than ever before, customers around the world have found inspiration and value in the breadth and quality of Apple’s services, which have impacted their lives in big and small ways every day,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re incredibly optimistic about where we’re headed, and we believe that the opportunities for developers and the creative community are endless, as are the positive and meaningful benefits to our customers.”
Apple also said that developers have earned more than $200 billion since the App Store launched in 2008.
Apple had announced back in November that it will lower App Store commission to 15% for app developers and small businesses earning less than $1 million per year, as part of a new program called App Store Small Business Program. “This week, many small and independent developers around the world became inaugural participants in the new App Store Small Business Program, which offers the vast majority of developers a reduced commission to empower reinvestment in their growth and expansion in 2021 and beyond.” the company said in the statement.
Apple also says Apple Music had a ‘record year’ following the release of the biggest product update that includes features like Listen Now and personal radio stations. “More than 90 percent of iOS 14 listeners have used these new features, and engagement with Apple Music’s industry-leading lyrics feature has doubled in 2020.”
Apple said Apple Books saw a remarkable growth in 2020 in the number of new customers. The app has now more than 90 million monthly active users.
“In 2020, Apple Books also saw strong growth across several genres, including double-digit increases in escapist fare like Mysteries & Thrillers and Romance, as well as even bigger surges in downloads for Kids, Comics & Graphic Novels, and Cookbooks, Food & Wine. Customers can also enjoy the 1,000 Free Books collection on Apple Books, which is refreshed twice weekly. Also in 2020, Apple Books for Authors launched, offering helpful resources on writing, publishing, selling, and marketing books on Apple Books, and further cementing Apple’s position as the industry’s friendliest platform for both independent authors and major publishers.”
In 2020, Apple also increased the adoption of Apple Pay worldwide. The company says: “Apple Pay is the easier and safer way to pay in stores using just an iPhone or Apple Watch, and now, more than 90 percent of stores in the US, 85 percent of stores in the UK, and 99 percent of stores in Australia accept Apple Pay, so customers can leave their physical cards at home. With shopping increasingly moving online, Apple Pay also provides the fastest and most secure way to order online.”
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