This post was published back in 2009. It may not function as originally intended or may be missing images.
Try It Button in the App Store
In the app store, it is very common to find that paid apps have an accompanying free or lite version. It's a great way to let users get a taste of an application or game without having to blindly purchase it.
It's so common that often when I'm browsing through the store and I find a game or an application that looks interesting, I'll open up the search tab and look to see if they have a free version to try first. This has saved me from spending money on some terrible games but also has lead me to purchase a ton of games that I got hooked on using the free version.
Since this has now become almost a standard for a lot of applications, I think the App Store can do a better job at bundling these free and paid versions together. I'd like to skip the extra steps involved in having to seek out free versions whenever I find a cool app while browsing the store (especially in the new Genius section).
If developers were able to link free and paid versions together through iTunes Connect, Apple could then display a small shortcut on the paid version that lets users know there is a free version out there to try. Even a small 'Try It' button underneath the purchase/price button would save a lot of hassle.
It would benefit users by allowing them an easier way to try out applications before dropping money on them. It would benefit developers by giving them one more chance at hooking a customer who might have otherwise balked at the price at first.