'Premium' App Store Coming into Effect with iPhone OS 3.0 (Rumor)

Following the announcement of an iPhone OS 3.0 preview this week, rumor-focused mouths on the web are digging up an old piece of unconfirmed news saying that Apple is to establish a “premium” section in the App Store. The branch would offer up games and apps priced at 20 USD and above, while their quality would not be as questionable.

The iTunes App Store has been the subject of great controversy at times, both regarding the developer's struggles of getting their apps approved, and then correctly listed in the venue, as well as the users' experience using the respective programs, with a previously-faulty reviewing system and no free (trial) versions of poor performing apps.

All that has changed lately, with more competent apps getting their rightful spot within the App Store's listings, while the reviewing system now allows only those who've actually owned and tried the program to post a review. However, Apple may need to provide an even better selection of the tens of thousands of titles available for iPhone and iPod touch, namely the previously-hinted “premium section” that would contain high quality apps. This addition to the App Store is said to be implemented along with the release of the iPhone OS 3.0, according to several reports.

The new section would undoubtedly contain the high class of iPhone and iPod touch applications, or perhaps the most graphically advanced of the lot, the same reports suggest. It is known that developers require a lot of time and coding skills to craft applications that tap into the 532 Mhz processor of the second generation iPod touch, and this would be one criteria matched by the apps making their way into the new section.

Apple hasn't dropped any hints on the subject, but most people agree that a VIP spot (so to speak) in the App Store makes a lot of sense. Would you agree?