App Shopper: A Million Dollar App (Business)

App Activity

Feb 16 '10	Version 1.1
Feb 09 '10	New App: Free, v1.0

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A Million Dollar App

iOS iPhone

Q: So, what’s the idea?
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A: It’s very simple. We are trying to make 1 million dollars (or the equivalent in your currency) by selling 1 million pixels for $1 (or the equivalent) each.

Everyone is welcome to buy pixels, which are available in blocks. Every block is 10x10 pixels (a total of 100 pixels per block). The application contains 10,000 of these blocks, which makes 1,000,000 pixels. The reason to sell the pixels in 10x10 blocks is because it’s very hard to display anything meaningful in less space than this.

You can buy as many pixels as you want as long as they are available. Once you buy a particular block of pixels you can upload a 10x10 ad/image/logo and make it link to your own web site, iphone application, or wherever you want. No obscene or offensive images are allowed.

Once you buy some pixels they become yours forever and you can change the images, the links they point to, and the description anytime you want. We are hoping to support this app for at least 2 years with the money we make and think that in the long term the pixels will offer good value.

Q: Who are you?
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A: We are two guys from Europe (both 26 years old) trying to make our ideas a reality, but you can’t make great stuff without money especially in a financial crisis. You can check out the project of our dreams at www.ugdb.com. We are trying to create a great social gaming website and we can use your help there if you are a gamer. We are also in love with the iPhone/iPod Touch and have several great ideas, which we’d like to bring to life one day.

Q: Do you really need 1 million dollars?
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A: No, we don’t. A lot less money will be enough to make ugdb.com a great place on the web and help us finance our iPhone projects, but in order to make the Million Dollar App interesting it has to be called the Million Dollar App. The “100,000 Dollar App” or the “10,000 Dollar App” doesn’t sound serious. Also, we couldn’t resist not to try it. Is it still possible for individuals and startups to make one million dollars in the AppStore?

Q: Why should I buy your pixels?
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A: Because you will get your very own spot in the Million Dollar App, which is going to be yours forever and can potentially be seen by millions. You will be able to upload a small 10x10 image (or more images if you have bought more blocks), a bigger 50x50 image and a short description, which the user will see after tapping on your pixels. Also, you can set a URL for the particular block and use it to show your web site or your iphone application to the user. You will be able to change the contents of your blocks anytime you want.

Q: Do I get any privilege if I’m one of the first to buy pixels?
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A: Actually, yes! Because the iPhone / iPod Touch screen is smaller than 1,000,000 pixels the users have to scroll in order to see all blocks. To make this easier, we have implemented a “Smart Scroll” function. After the user opens the application, the screen scrolls automatically to a position where there are purchased blocks. So, if you are one of the first to buy pixels, you will get more exposure for your blocks.

Q: You said that you can’t show all 1,000,000 pixels on the iPhone screen at once. How do I know the users will ever see my blocks?
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A: The “Smart Scroll” function takes care for this. When the application is opened, the screen will be scrolled to a position the user hasn’t seen before and then will be repeated again after several application launches. This way everyone will have a good chance of exposure.

... read the full FAQ in the Million Dollar App...