Apple to raise app prices by up to 30 per cent

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The price of apps on Apple's App Store is set to increase. Photo: Apple


The price of apps on Apple's App Store will rise by up to 30 per cent in Australia within the next few hours.


A price increase was foreshadowed by Fairfax Media on Tuesday, and follows the release of updated pricing tables to Apple software developers who have provided Fairfax with the details before Apple began rolling it out on Wednesday evening. On Tuesday Apple did not say what the increase would be.


Apps now costing 99 cents will cost consumers $1.29 after the change is implemented.


The change also applies to other pricing tiers. Apps that cost $1.99 before the increase will rise to $2.49 (a 25 per cent increase); $2.99 apps will cost $3.79 (a 26 per cent increase); and $4.49 apps will cost $4.99 (an 11 per cent increase).


The highest amount a developer can charge for an app, $1049.99, will now be $1299.90. This is $249.91 more, an increase of 23 per cent.


Increases will apply to Mac, iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch apps and were changed to take into account foreign exchange rates over the past year, according to a message sent to software developers by Apple.


The change comes after a year of currency fluctuations. As of 5.58pm on Wednesday, the Australian dollar was fetching 92 US cents.


It is unclear if iTunes music and other prices of products in Apple's other stores will also rise. Apple Australia has not responded to a request for comment.


The move comes almost three years after Apple was applauded for reducing its App Store pricing in Australia by up to 25 per cent, and follows recent accusations it has been shifting nearly $9 billion (US$8.1 billion) in untaxed profits from its Australian operations to Ireland over the past decade.


A parliamentary inquiry looked into IT pricing in Australia last year.


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