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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

#191

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's sad to see them go from "Do no Evil" to "Pray we don't alter the deal any further" in just a few short years.

Dude, it you check out http://www.google.com/ideas/ , they are looking a bit like a defence contractor these days.

You weren't kidding. That reminds me of Palantir a bit.

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

#192
post #172

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…

It's interesting seeing Google as a grown up company, with many of the flaws they acquired early on still intact and at Google scale. You can be spending $100ks per month on adwords and still not have a competent person to call when you need help. EVen if you do, they don't know much and can't do much. Realistically, it's not much better than an outsourced call centre and much worse than the far less profitable Big A…

This. Google needs one Jobsian hard-ass in charge of product marketing/quality to keep this swarm of ADD mayhem under control and set priorities.

Around Android 2.3 I was a huge fanboy because the platform had so much potential. Now? The platform still has so much potential, and I'm only a fan because it's an open-source platform with real consumer adoption - not because I think it's actually good. Microsoft shoveled a bunch of cash into the furnace and went from nothing to better in that time.

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

#193

Official app stores are quasi-monopolies and need government control. Think about all the time and work the developer has invested. And can't be possible for google to effectively keep him from selling the app just because they feel like it. If they have an app distribution monopoly, developers have a right to publish their app there. It is not a favor google grants. This is something laws have to enforce as companie…

> Official app stores are quasi-monopolies and need government control.

I highly doubt that the government that might address it (the US government) would take a stand that would protect a Nigerian developer. Government regulation isn't the answer to everything. Extra app stores are.

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

#195
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Google has been taking a collective shit The biggest issue with anything Google related is absolute lack of communication/transparency. They have been baning web pages from Google AdSense and never told the owners why, without any way to appeal decision. The oracle has spoken, You are not worthy. Take this automatic reply message based on some words from your email.

In the suspension notice I received I had a way to appeal it.

I received a notification in adsense that I was in violation of a policy and clicked the "ok", or "fixed" button when I removed the page. They don't just ban people and walk away unless you plain didn't read the TOS and are breaking big rules like clicking your own ads, doing shady stuff, etc.

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

#196

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 think you're missing the point where - Google wouldn't even accept the developer into their own 'Take 30% of my income' program - Other popular apps get away with that (using Paypal) just fine So.. arbitrary, idiotic and no way to talk to a human. There's no way to justify that.

I think you're missing the point. Google is god. You either follow the TOS or get booted eventually, if or when they find out.

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

#198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reeaally? So, is Chrome now filtering the internet to catch you entering your CC number to some vague service online? Because that's what we're talking about. Shopping (for an in app purchase, but still) online, in a browser. I wonder how Google checked if Amazon is PCI compliant.. If you're entering your CC everywhere that's not something Google can (or should - no need for a nanny..) fix. There's no way in my world…

There's a very clear difference between native apps and web apps in my mind. EDIT: I should make very clear to non-developers out there that, with a native app, you're able to display a web browser without a URL bar or any other UI, which makes it exceedingly easy to trick people into thinking that they're at an official PayPal site or other shenanigans that the unscrupulous dev wants to try. More information: https:…

> EDIT: I should make very clear to non-developers out there that, with a native app, you're able to display a web browser without a URL bar or any other UI, which makes it exceedingly easy to trick people into thinking that they're at an official PayPal site or other shenanigans that the unscrupulous dev wants to try.

Nothing's stopping a non-standard browser (Opera, Firefox, etc.) from doing that, and they're permitted on Android. Hell, you could do it on iOS, too.

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

#199
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds very suspicious. Do you have a source for this? Remember that you don't even need a carrier to be able to use the app store. Who takes the 25% from the payments done from my wlan-only tablet?

Here's a story about them trying to negotiate an increase in their cut with carriers in South Korea: http://www.androidauthority.com/google-share-play-store-andr... I don't know what happens for carrier-less devices. I had actually thought OEMs had a slice in the pie too but couldn't find any evidence of that as so didn't mention it earlier.

I would have to think South Korea is a whole different ball game.

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

#200
post #51

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anecdotes like this one do indeed suggest they're not trying as hard as they can: > I hate this bullshit, they've said exactly the same about my country for 3 years before actually adding seller support. They were about 3 years slower than Microsoft and Apple. I actually am a Google fanboy for the record. But it does seem like they just don't care about this.

Yes, but Microsoft and Apple have the advantage of having physical products, stores, agreements, etc. in the international market already.

This isn't a factor. Apple has no offices in South Africa - all retail sales, support, etc are handled through a distributor, Core Group - but local devs can still sell paid apps through the App Store. Google, despite actually having a large-ish local presence, didn't allow the same thing for years. The local office only handled ad sales, it seems.
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