Up until now, there hasn’t been a great way to provide an easy to remember URL to direct customers to your application in Apple’s App Store. That’s apparently going to change, with Apple opening up new vanity URL’s that start with AppStore.com. TechCrunch spotted the new vanity URL which could be seen during the Super Bowl ad for the upcoming Star Trek movie Into Darkness. They are encouraging interested viewers to visit AppStore.com/StarTrekApp. This creates a friendly redirect to the Star Trek App in the App Store.
We’ve seen a number of advertisers utilizing vanity URL’s with Facebook. What’s interesting about this move is that it requires you have an iOS device in order to use the app. While it will certainly limit those who can experience the app, it will provide for a more immersive and brand-able experience. The Star Trek app includes a number of scavenger hunt missions in the real world that lead up to the film’s release.
As for other developers, they won’t be able to self select their vanity URL’s, but instead will be provided one by Apple. This should help avoid the massive rush by developers to obtain their friendly vanity URL of choice.
Source: TechCrunch
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