14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is informing iOS application sellers that its iOS 7 App Store now supports apps specifically made for kids in a new category, in accordance with the company’s announcement at WWDC.
On its developer site, Apple acknowledges that, “At WWDC, we announced a new Kids category for the App Store in iOS 7.”
“This new category provides parents with a place to find age-appropriate apps for their children,” the company says.
Apps made specifically for kids aged 11 or younger can now be assigned an age rating via iTunes Connect. The available age ranges are 5 and under; ages 6–8; and ages 9–11.
Developers can only choose one age range for each app, while apps that make it into the Kids section will still have a primary and secondary category, even though they will also be displayed in a new, separate area of the App Store.
“To assign the Kids category to an already existing app, submit a new version of your app for review,” developers are told.
“Starting this fall, the currently existing Kids subcategory for game apps will no longer be displayed on the App Store,” Apple reveals.
Developers must visit the App Category Definitions page (via the Manage Your Apps module) on the iTunes Connect portal in order to choose the appropriate App Store category for their IP.
Devs whose app’s current category definition may not fit the current rules will need to assign a new category when they plan to roll out a new update.
Application sellers looking to learn about creating, submitting, and managing apps for the Kids category can get all the information they need in the iTunes Connect Developer Guide.
As usual, Apple reminds programmers to make sure their apps comply with the App Store Review Guidelines (which have been updated just two days ago).
More trivial questions can be answered in the iTunes Connect FAQ.