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Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

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Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The point is, that the developer can't use the Payment Processor on the Market, because Google will not allow him to use it (he is from the "wrong country").

Shouldn't the developer have known this through reading the rules of the store BEFORE he/she developer the app? If you can't be bothered to do due diligence before making such a big business decision you aren't equipped to run a business.

As the article pointed out, Google currently features a free app that offers IAP using PayPal.

Perhaps the developer did do their due dilligence and saw that Google is (supposedly) OK with it.

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#62
post #4

TLDR: Application banned for not using a Google-blessed payment option which Google has not enabled for the country in which the developer actually lives. In that case I guess the only other option is going completely free? How many developers will be willing to accept that position? Do Google really think they can create a thriving ecosystem and market if they start throwing around inconsistent and conflicting rules…

The app in question was using Paypal. Right or wrong, there is no way Google is going to let developers use Paypal instead of their own Google billing, for which they keep 30%.

I wonder why they allow skype? As far as I know skype use their own billing for credit. This isn't a physical product, so I can't see why this shouldn't be disallowed by the terms of service.

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#63

I know Google's policy on this, but I completely understand where the developer is coming from. Google has been taking a collective shit on every developer out of its list of seller countries[0], which is ridiculously short and hasn't been expanded in god knows how long, and even then, there were only a handful of countries added. On Google's page about seller countries they say: "We're working hard to add more count…

I couldn't have said it any better myself. In this instance, swearing is not only warranted: it's needed. I feel exactly the same way and have a friend who was burned by this exact policy all due to Google's inability to get off their billion dollar asses and make someone fix the problem.

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am from India and credit cards are still not that mainstream here. And it is same situation. Everyone has a debit card but Apple and Google both refuse to accept them for their stores (last time I checked, same with Windows Phone, though Microsoft at least accepts them for Windows, Office and Skydrive stuff!)

>> "Everyone has a debit card but Apple and Google both refuse to accept them for their stores" I use debit cards with both stores and have for years. I used to use Maestro (which is being fazed out but still accepted) and now I use Visa Debit.

Maestro isn't an accepted form of payment for iTunes Store http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5552?viewlocale=en_US&locale=e...

Has to run over Visa/MasterCard/Amex

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#65

I know Google's policy on this, but I completely understand where the developer is coming from. Google has been taking a collective shit on every developer out of its list of seller countries[0], which is ridiculously short and hasn't been expanded in god knows how long, and even then, there were only a handful of countries added. On Google's page about seller countries they say: "We're working hard to add more count…

> No, you're fucking not working hard, you added the last ones a year and a half ago. I'm not even a Google fanboy, but what do you know about the challenges that Google might be facing? It's a really strong accusation to say that a company is not working hard just because you can't have exactly what you want. Last I checked, neither Google nor Apple make guarantees about how much of a living a developer is going to…

> I'm not even a Google fanboy, but what do you know about the challenges that Google might be facing? It's a really strong accusation to say that a company is not working hard just because you can't have exactly what you want.

This argument works only because companies like Google prefer no communication with their user/developer base. If they took the time and posted a short note explaining which challenges Google faces in a specific country, this discussion would not take place.

I think it's time we stopped defending silent companies by hypothesizing scenarios where they are hard-working but can't tell us.

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "Everyone has a debit card but Apple and Google both refuse to accept them for their stores" I use debit cards with both stores and have for years. I used to use Maestro (which is being fazed out but still accepted) and now I use Visa Debit.

Maestro isn't an accepted form of payment for iTunes Store http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5552?viewlocale=en_US&locale=e... Has to run over Visa/MasterCard/Amex

They must have changed that. I used it from around 2008-2010. May depend on your location though.

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#67

I know Google's policy on this, but I completely understand where the developer is coming from. Google has been taking a collective shit on every developer out of its list of seller countries[0], which is ridiculously short and hasn't been expanded in god knows how long, and even then, there were only a handful of countries added. On Google's page about seller countries they say: "We're working hard to add more count…

> No, you're fucking not working hard, you added the last ones a year and a half ago. I'm not even a Google fanboy, but what do you know about the challenges that Google might be facing? It's a really strong accusation to say that a company is not working hard just because you can't have exactly what you want. Last I checked, neither Google nor Apple make guarantees about how much of a living a developer is going to…

I can assume what challenges Google is facing based on how successful other companies in the space are in providing the same service, namely Microsoft and Apple.

Google: 32 countries Apple: 90 countries (probably more now, info from 2012) Microsoft: 127 countries

Yes, Microsoft and Apple had a head start, but the difference is just way too big, and Google hasn't moved that number in a year and a half.

I don't want Google to do the dirty work for me. They should just let me do the dirty work, and let me implement other payment methods. Don't you see how saying "You can only use our payment processor on Google Play" and immediately following it up with "Our payment processor is not available in your country" is rage-inducing?

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "Everyone has a debit card but Apple and Google both refuse to accept them for their stores" I use debit cards with both stores and have for years. I used to use Maestro (which is being fazed out but still accepted) and now I use Visa Debit.

Maestro isn't an accepted form of payment for iTunes Store http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5552?viewlocale=en_US&locale=e... Has to run over Visa/MasterCard/Amex

Your own link states (copy/pasted..)

>>> You may be able to use other payment types in your country, like debit and Maestro cards. Too see all accepted payment methods, follow these steps:

(Sidenote: "Too see"? I mean.. Shouldn't text be proof-read for these kind of sites?)

Re: Google permanently bans popular application from Play for not using IAP

#69

I know Google's policy on this, but I completely understand where the developer is coming from. Google has been taking a collective shit on every developer out of its list of seller countries[0], which is ridiculously short and hasn't been expanded in god knows how long, and even then, there were only a handful of countries added. On Google's page about seller countries they say: "We're working hard to add more count…

> No, you're fucking not working hard, you added the last ones a year and a half ago. I'm not even a Google fanboy, but what do you know about the challenges that Google might be facing? It's a really strong accusation to say that a company is not working hard just because you can't have exactly what you want. Last I checked, neither Google nor Apple make guarantees about how much of a living a developer is going to…

Here in South Africa for example, it has been possible for at least 3 years to sell apps on iTunes, on Samsung Apps, and BlackBerry Apps world. So there's most probably not some major stumbling block that prevents it, as these other companies overcame it.

>If you want to make money, stop waiting for other people to do the dirty work for you.

The dirty work developers like us have been doing up to now was to implement an alternative mechanism for receiving payments, like the developer in the article. When Google bans that, there simply is no other way to receive payments. Or are you able to come up with an alternative way for developers to do the dirty work themselves? I know I'm very keen to know of one, as are many other Android developers in South Africa, Kenia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, etc.

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