Pre-ordering mobile apps is a service offered by major app stores (Google Play, Apple Store, etc.) that allows users to reserve an app before its official release. Once pre-ordered, the app is automatically downloaded and installed on the user’s smartphone as soon as it’s released. On the Apple Store, it’s possible to pre-order an app up to 90 days before its initial release date. This service applies to both paid and free apps.

For app developers, pre-orders can be used for various purposes, such as testing, market research, or capitalizing on the hype surrounding the app before its official launch. Unlike pre-orders for physical products, which often rely on scarcity, unless the app is a limited edition, pre-ordering mobile apps primarily serves a practical purpose. For users, it is more of a service facilitating reminders to install the application upon its release than a guarantee of obtaining the application, except in the case of limited editions.