One qualm many have had about the iOS App Store is that the search functionality is currently a less-than-stellar way to peruse through the millions of apps available for users. According to a new report from Bloomberg, however, Apple is working behind-the-scenes to explore a handful of changes for App Store search.
The report explains that Apple has started a secret team to work on developing changes for the search mechanism currently used. The team is said to consist of about 100 employees, with Apple VP and former iAd leader Todd Teresi. In fact, the team is said to consist of many former iAd engineers following Apple’s decision to scale that initiative back.
One of the methods that Apple is considering is paid search. Essentially, developers and companies could pay to have their app shown more prominently in search results. “For instance, a game developer could pay to have its program shown when somebody looks for ‘football game,’ ‘word puzzle’ or blackjack,'” Bloomberg writes.
This is similar to the method Google uses and could significantly increase revenue for Apple. The biggest app developers are bringing in massive amounts of revenue via the App Store and would likely be willing to pay to have their app featured at the top of search results.
Of course, the biggest issue many will have with this paid search idea is that it could be harder for up and coming developers to break through. Many independent developers simply don’t have the budget to pay to be at the top of search results, while corporate-backed apps and already established developers do.
Last year, it was reported that Apple was making enhancements to the App Store search algorithms to display more relevant and intelligent results, but many users still complain that search results are cluttered and not accurate.
The report notes that this new secretive search team at Apple is working on other changes to how customers browse the App Store, but no other details are available. The team is said to be relatively new, so any changes are likely pretty far off.
What do you think of the possibility of paid search coming to the App Store?
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Horrible idea. Just make search more relevant. Why can I not find an app sometimes that I am typing the name in exactly for?
WTF!? This is a bad idea. When I search for something I want to find what I’m searching for and not for what somebody is paying “to be find”.
This is not honest. People want Apps that are really good and thats a decision of an user. I think it’s a mix from rating, downloading and how many times apps are used. Also it’s not OK for new developers and new ideas. Thats disappointing.
But this concept is s***! “Money rules the world. So: Money rules the search results.”
I don’t know who makes decisions like this at Apple.
Sorry for my bad english.
Calm down bro. Apple will not show Candy Crush results when you look for the Wikipedia app. They are smart enough to know what they’re doing and provide a better experience for the users.
So basically Tim and Luca need to show more growth from “services” revenue because Wall Street thinks iPhone is in decline so they’re going to charge developers for prime placement in the App Store. Except the ones that can afford this probably already get prime placement and already top search results. How does this help an indie developer get more exposure or help the consumer find better apps and not just stupid IAP games?!? Dumb idea.
If I wanted sponsored search results I would buy an android.
If app developers pay Apple money they are allowed to use targeted adverts based on the information Apple holds, and guess what those adverts magically appear in some of the apps you use.
Incredible that these days people really do still believe that Apple don’t make money off the information they have on their lovely databases.
Everyone needs to light up Apple’s feedback form, for this to even be a rumor…
Apple is a for profit company. A capitalist one. Yuu don’t expect them to be charitable without a reason do you
Hasn’t Apple’s motto always been “it’s not about the money it’s about the experience”.
so only do apple take a large percentage, but now they want to charge more so developers can bump up their apps — how does that make it better?
why not put popular apps with good ratings near the top?
and why not remove apps that are extremely out of date
and remove apps that are not compatible with ios 5/6 up…
why not have results that are best compatible with my os?
If this is true it is a terrible idea and not something a company like Apple should do.
What is more relevant is to get a more accurate rating or grading on the quality of the app and reliability of the developer. Apple could provide their own assessment by their software experts.
Sink to Google level? I hope not.
Paid search results for developers? It is going to be a bloodbath and a very bad idea. Only apps made by big software houses would survive. All freelancers and small software houses would disappear on the App Store. No one would be able to find their apps anymore. Because the big software houses would keep raising the search results score for their own apps and games so the small ones would not have any chance. They just couldn’t afford paying millions of dollars to Apple for raising the search results score for sure.
I just want a Newly Approved and Newly Updated apps section.
Yes it will be overwhelming for average users, but it helps those who like to try apps, and reviewers to check up what’s new rather than hoping for the developer to contact them, or waiting for it to be featured by the App Store editorial.
Oh, and they should provide the uninstall statistic to the devs. It’s kind of another way for users to give the finger to unsatisfying devs other than 1 star and negative reviews, showing them how much users think their apps is not good enough.