Just
in time for the holidays, Apple has added a new gift option that lets you give
the gift of in-app purchases to your friends and family.In an update to the App
Store guidelines, the tech giant announced that "apps" - or app
developers - are authorized to allow iOS users to purchase in-app goods for
each other. This includes both current subscriptions and one-off gifts.Apple's
earlier policy did not allow such gifts. For the first time seen on Wednesday
by MacRumors, the language is under the Payments section of the guidelines:
"Apps can allow the gift of items eligible for in-app purchase to others,
which can only be refunded to the original purchaser and may not be refunded.
The
previous wording stated: "Apps may not allow gifting of content, functions
or consumables directly or indirectly for in-app purchases to others,"
MacRumors said. However, the iPhone maker does not provide insight into how the
integration of internal content-gifting works.
If you want to give a non-free
app to someone right now, tap the blue and white icon with the three points
next to the app's price. You will then be asked to send the app to the
recipient by e-mail.The latest move from Apple can really benefit gamers who
use in-app currency, such as "Fortnite" V-Bucks. Users can also
donate premium content, such as locked photo filters and free app upgrades.
