Apple has patented a new technology to allow app users to easily share demos, trials and full apps from one iOS device to another.

The size of the app market has increased tremendously with the uptake in mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablets. As such, apps are becoming a highly integrated feature for smartphone and tablet users.

As it currently stands, in order for a user to download an app their friend has just shown them, they need to locate the app in the corresponding app store and then download it themselves. As much as this only involves a couple of steps, it is open to user errors such as typing the name of the application in wrong and thus not finding the correct app.

Therefore, Apple has proposed a solution to eliminate the potential gap between the two consumers. The following image outlines how this would work:

The two devices (202 and 204) could be an iPhone, an iPad, MacBook or other iOS devices.  The ‘sharing device’ (202) will display a list of applications which are available to share with the ‘receiving device (204), and will be shared via a suitable user interface such as touch gestures, keyboard input or speech.

The selected application will give a list of sharing preferences such as whether a fully functional copy of the app can be shared or just a limited version.  Limited versions can also include links to iTunes where the full version can be purchased. There have also been hints from Apple that they may provide some incentive such as store credit, coupons or promotional items to the ‘app sharer’.

The app sharing feature will work by establishing a peer-to-peer connection (as shown by 206 in the diagram) via a cable or infrared connection, or through a network cloud (shown as 208). In case the transfer of data does not complete, the ‘sharing device’ will transmit an ‘application seed’ first which will contain enough information to download the app from the server. This ‘application seed’ could also be used if the app shared is of limited functionality in which case the ‘receiver’s device’ could connect with the server and gather additional information, allowing the ‘receiver’ to purchase, retrieve or download the shared app.

The patent goes on to highlight further implementations of the shared app functionality including providing wireless access points within businesses, such as a cafés. Café customers would be able to share apps onto the access points allowing future customers to access them once the original device has left.

Word-of-mouth has always been a massively powerful force in the world of mobile, and has been an important factor in many of its most impressive success stories. The possibility that this tool could be about to get even more powerful thanks to this refinement from Apple should be enough to get any marketer excited. Of course, the only way brands can be sure to leverage this power to full effect is by building enjoyable, smooth, well-designed apps that will get users so enthused that they won’t be able to resist sharing with their friends.

Via Patently Apple.