If you deploy an application through the iTunes app store, what usage information do you get from Apple? Do you only get the number of downloads/sales, and does this differ for free vs. paid apps? Do you get any information regarding how often it is used, crash logs, demographics info, etc? Is the only way to build hooks to your own server to track this information and would such an app even get approved?
I’ve seen articles such as this one that includes quotes like:
only about 20 percent of users return to use a free app the day after they first download it and by 30 days out, less than five percent are using the app.
Is that based on surveys, or is it data that comes from Apple? There doesn’t appear to be much publicly available data except when Apple shows the top applications, but that is just based downloads or ratings, and nothing deeper.
You only receive usage information if you somehow program the reporting of such information into your app.
Number of Downloads (Sales if a non-free app) and more recently crash logs are the only information you receive from Apple. you do not even receive personal information about WHO is was that bought your app, only that they did.