Question about in-app purchase

[Danny F4LHZ]

Hi,

I'm considering purchasing the aprs.fi app : I see that there's an in-app purchase that allows "beaconing to APRS-IS", and I'm wondering what it is exactly.

Does it mean that by default, the app only sends data to its own database (used by the aprs.fi website and app), and the in-app purchase is required to really send data to APRS-IS, thus allowing other APRS apps or websites to view our beacons ?

Also, what is the cost of this option ? (it's not visible in the app's details on iOS, or at least I didn't find it :)

Thanks a lot and 73

Danny F4LHZ

[aprs.fi]

Hi,

Correct, without the subscription the position uploads only go the aprs.fi database and not to the APRS-IS.

Here is the background story about the in-app purchases I wrote in 2018 before introducing it. It describes why the subscription model is necessary: https://blog.aprs.fi/2018/12/subscription-for-extra-features-ios.html

And here's the release announcement, with good information too: https://blog.aprs.fi/2020/05/aprsfi-iphone-ipad-20-with-messaging.html

There's a 1-week free trial included in the1-year subscription, but remember to cancel at least 24 hours before the end of the trial, as Apple will charge the next period up to 24 hours before each subscription term ends! They do this to ensure continuous service when the period ends and switches to the next one.

The prices vary depending on country and currency, so I can't put them in the info text; there's a huge number of different price points and they change a little bit every now and then depending on various local things. The App Store shows them in the Info -> In App Purchases table; just scroll to the bottom of the application's page on the App Store:

Here are the current prices here in Finland:

All the three subscriptions give access to the same features. The Fair Trade option offsets for the App Store fees and various taxes, so that in the end I get almost the 7€, and I can buy a beer or a simple meal. :)

App store will also show a reminder about these in-app payment details again to everyone who intends to buy the app, in the "do you really want to buy this app" confirmation dialog sequence, to make sure everyone has noticed them. It still comes as a surprise to some customers, which is very unfortunate.

There's a country-specific page for each app on apps.apple.com, here's the one for France (fr). It shows the prices in the French app store, and reviews & ratings given by buyers over there.

https://apps.apple.com/fr/app/aprs-fi/id922155038?l=en

- Hessu

[Danny F4LHZ]

Thanks a lot for your detailed answer !

Indeed the prices for in-app purchases are visible in the info section, missed them somehow :o

Do you have somewhere a list of differences of features between the iOS app and the website as browsed on a mobile ?

Thanks, 73

[Heikki Hannikainen]

On Tue, 30 Jan 2024, Danny F4LHZ wrote:

> Thanks a lot for your detailed answer !
> Indeed the prices for in-app purchases are visible in the info section, missed them somehow :o
>
> Do you have somewhere a list of differences of features between the iOS app and the website as browsed on a mobile ?

No, not really, but here goes:

The web site is quite clumsy on a mobile, as it has not been implemented
using mobile-first methods. It's old enough to vote and get a driver's
license this year, and it shows. The iOS app is mostly very smooth and
quick on the iPhone, easy to use in that form factor. It has
search-as-you-type for finding other stations.

The app can do beaconing, in the background, even. It can be attached to a
radio using the built-in DSP modem, and it can connect to a BLE TNC
wirelessly, or a Direwolf DSP modem over WiFi. The built-in modem has
about as good decoding performance as Direwolf itself (i.e. very good
indeed). Two-way text messaging, receive-only iGate.

The app does miss a few views which the website has. iGate & digipeater
service area plots are not drawn, "who heard who"-like tables are not
shown yet, and some station metrics graphs are missing as well. No support
for APRS bulletins, or browsing text messages of other stations. Most of
these will get added eventually.

- Hessu

[Danny F4LHZ]

Thanks again for taking the time to answer properly !

73 QRO