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IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

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Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#31

Post by irons »

jonknee wrote: post #26
_delirium wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can believe that if Amazon were sticking to terms for its own market, but Amazon is attempting to prohibit anyone who sells through its market from simultaneously trying other pricing strategies in other channels. That seems more like a classic attempt at using market power in one channel to coerce behavior in other channels, rather than competing on the product's actual strength (unlike Google or even Apple).

You can try other pricing strategies, it's just that you need to give Amazon the lowest list price. No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. Amazon and [to a much greater extent] Wal-Mart play these games with physical goods too. It's just you never get to read the terms and big distributors don't complain publicly.

No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available.

IGDA says the Amazon terms limit you to the lowest price "available or previously available on any Similar Service" — it's the "previously available" that's the sticking point.

Tweetbot is having a $2.00 introductory sale on the iOS App Store, where the price will eventually go up. If Tapbots were foolish enough to do an Amazon version, they'd be constrained to offer that price forever. Absurd.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#32

Post by MatthewPhillips »

allwein wrote: post #23

I'd need to read the Amazon agreement much more closely, but what's to stop developers from gaming this by taking all their apps released on Amazon's app store and making them special "Amazon Editions"? Then the argument is there that the minimum list price on Google's store doesn't apply, because the Google Edition and the Amazon Edition are two different apps.

You can't loophole your way out of a merchant/producer relationship. They decide what qualifies; they'll slap down your loophole and kick you out.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#33

Post by jonknee »

irons wrote: post #31
jonknee wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can try other pricing strategies, it's just that you need to give Amazon the lowest list price. No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. Amazon and [to a much greater extent] Wal-Mart play these games with physical goods too. It's just you never get to read the terms and big distributors don't complain publicly.

No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. IGDA says the Amazon terms limit you to the lowest price "available or previously available on any Similar Service" — it's the "previously available" that's the sticking point. Tweetbot is having a $2.00 introductory sale on the iOS App Store, where the price will eventually go up. If Tapbots were foolish enough to do…

I don't think Tweetbot would have any trouble launching at whatever list price they wanted on Amazon. Amazon isn't selling iOS apps so the Apple App Store isn't a similar service. Google's Android Market would be though.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#34

Post by sliverstorm »

irons wrote: post #31
jonknee wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You can try other pricing strategies, it's just that you need to give Amazon the lowest list price. No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. Amazon and [to a much greater extent] Wal-Mart play these games with physical goods too. It's just you never get to read the terms and big distributors don't complain publicly.

No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. IGDA says the Amazon terms limit you to the lowest price "available or previously available on any Similar Service" — it's the "previously available" that's the sticking point. Tweetbot is having a $2.00 introductory sale on the iOS App Store, where the price will eventually go up. If Tapbots were foolish enough to do…

That depends on whether it's a Similar Service. Seems like you'd have a lot of wiggle room there.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#35

Post by irons »

jonknee wrote: post #33
irons wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No different than Apple really, requiring your in-app content to match the lowest pricing available. IGDA says the Amazon terms limit you to the lowest price "available or previously available on any Similar Service" — it's the "previously available" that's the sticking point. Tweetbot is having a $2.00 introductory sale on the iOS App Store, where the price will eventually go up. If Tapbots were foolish enough to do…

I don't think Tweetbot would have any trouble launching at whatever list price they wanted on Amazon. Amazon isn't selling iOS apps so the Apple App Store isn't a similar service. Google's Android Market would be though.

Your optimism would be touching, if it wasn't coming in the defense of such flagrantly hostile behavior.

Even if this clause did apply only to Android recompilations and not to ports, I trust you'll concede it is not status quo ante with Apple's already-appalling pricing terms.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#36

Post by GrandMasterBirt »

cooldeal wrote: post #17
msy wrote: post #15

Say hello to the new boss, same as the old boss. Amazon, Apple et al are becoming new middle men of the digital marketplace. Want to sell content online? If you want mass market exposure we'll have 30-70% of the revenue from the sweat of your brow and you better thank us for the privilege. I wonder how long until they band together and form a lobby group called the Digital Content Providers Association of America.

With Android atleast you can sell the app from your website or any market. With iPhone apps there is no chance of that at all. (Cydia doesn't really count).

Yes but the problem is when markets hijack business models. Like what apple did with in-app sales.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#37

Post by gacba »

Three words people: In App Purchases! If you have a free app, and then use In App Purchasing for your real revenue stream, you won't be affected by these Orwellian terms and Amazon's whims.

It's relatively new on Android, but a number of iOS apps are raking it in this way and giving away the app for free...

http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/android-in-app-live/

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#38

Post by JoachimSchipper »

gacba wrote: post #37

Three words people: In App Purchases! If you have a free app, and then use In App Purchasing for your real revenue stream, you won't be affected by these Orwellian terms and Amazon's whims. It's relatively new on Android, but a number of iOS apps are raking it in this way and giving away the app for free... http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/android-in-app-live/

Apple has already closed this loophole, and if this becomes widespread others will too.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#39

Post by dazzla »

From my limited experience (a friend's and my own app in the Amazon store from the first week) the exposure is pretty negligible anyway. I imagine the requirement to enable side loading (not possible with AT&T), downloading another store app, enabling 1 click, etc is really hindering adoption. So I don't think developers need to loose any sleep over this right now.

Re: IGDA about the Amazon Android Appstore: just say no.

#40

Post by gacba »

JoachimSchipper wrote: post #38
gacba wrote: post #37

Three words people: In App Purchases! If you have a free app, and then use In App Purchasing for your real revenue stream, you won't be affected by these Orwellian terms and Amazon's whims. It's relatively new on Android, but a number of iOS apps are raking it in this way and giving away the app for free... http://mashable.com/2011/03/29/android-in-app-live/

Apple has already closed this loophole, and if this becomes widespread others will too.

Closed it how? Can you provide a link?
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