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Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

blog.wolframalpha.com

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Re: Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

#2

Post by melling »

And this is not an April Fool's joke. The app store hadn't updated for me when I first saw this. Then the actual buy screen still said $49.99. Now I can't buy it because it's being modified in the store. Sometimes Hacker News is too quick with the news. :-)

I imagine this app is at worth at least the price of a cup of coffee.

Re: Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

#5

Post by eisenkr »

emanuer wrote: post #4

Could someone please explain me why I should buy the app? http://m.wolframalpha.com seems to be exactly the same thing. The only reason for buying the app I see, is supporting WolframAlpha. Please tell me if I am wrong.

The app has created custom keyboards for typing mathematical formulas. Makes for a much better experience.

Re: Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

#6

Post by travisjeffery »

kvs wrote: post #3

I wonder whether earlier pricing ($49) was chosen to only have serious users before opening up the app to everyone. Perhaps an effective method to recruit beta testers who care.

I highly doubt that.

I think Wolfram and the folks at WRI were just off their rockers when they made that price hoping that they could get some sales at that price and then depending on the reception go from there.

That or Wolfram was kidding himself into believing that people considered a WolframAlpha app was that much of a value to them rather than using the site in Safari.

Since everyone balked they just reacted.

Re: Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

#7

Post by ABrandt »

kvs wrote: post #3

I wonder whether earlier pricing ($49) was chosen to only have serious users before opening up the app to everyone. Perhaps an effective method to recruit beta testers who care.

My guess is that they were trying to skim off as much revenue from the potential customer pool as possible. If you charge $49 and only get 100 takers, you still make more than if you had 1000 paying $1.99. I know there's different thresholds to consider, but this is a fairly common pricing strategy. Remember Apple's original $599 iPhone?

Re: Wolfram Alpha's iPhone app now only costs $1.99

#8

Post by bmalicoat »

ABrandt wrote: post #7
kvs wrote: post #3

I wonder whether earlier pricing ($49) was chosen to only have serious users before opening up the app to everyone. Perhaps an effective method to recruit beta testers who care.

My guess is that they were trying to skim off as much revenue from the potential customer pool as possible. If you charge $49 and only get 100 takers, you still make more than if you had 1000 paying $1.99. I know there's different thresholds to consider, but this is a fairly common pricing strategy. Remember Apple's original $599 iPhone?

Wolfram, like Apple with the iPhone, are offering a rebate for those unhappy about the price change.
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