Overzealous kids prompt in-app purchase policy change for iOS devices

Giving kids a few quarters to play some arcade games at a restaurant or mall is something that parents do every day. The iPhone and its sister devices offer parents the opportunity to do the same thing, but in a more virtual way. Buying a 99 cent game off the app store and handing the device to your kids seems like an easy way to keep them contented, but when a few parents saw their credit card bills climb hundreds of dollars from a single app, it prompted Apple to rethink its in-app purchase policy. 

A new feature in iOS 4.3 requires user verification before allowing an in-app purchase, regardless of how much time has passed since a password was entered. Prior to iOS 4.3, after an app was purchased, the user wouldn't have to re-enter their password again for at least 15 minutes, allowing anyone to make unlimited in-app purchases within that window. This caused many youngsters to rack up huge charges without ever realizing that their parent's credit cards would eventually feel the sting.

[Image Credit: Stephan Rosger]

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