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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

#111

Post by FedRegister »

darklajid wrote: post #32
NickSharp wrote: post #22

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.

And the author was willing to push a mandatory update that disabled the PayPal IAP.

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

#112

Post by sergiosgc »

fulafel wrote: post #54
jpswade wrote: post #40

If I were him and the application was worthwhile. I'd open a shell company in another country that is Google approved, then release the application under a new name, under that company. Sure it means jumping through a few hoops to satisfy Google, but it's certainly doable.

Can anyone provide tips on how to best do this? Are there countries with lightweight bureucracy that let you do this over the web and without spending much money up front? There might be a niche for a publisher company here.

Here in Portugal, you can't open a company remotely, but the bureaucracy is light enough that you can do it in person in one day. After opening the company you have to get a bank account, and for that you need a permanent national address. It'll take a couple of weeks for the bank to issue debit cards and online banking credentials. Two weeks and one trip here and you should be all set up.

(for EU citizens; non-EU owners incur extra bureaucracy, namely on the banking part of the process)

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

#114

Post by icebraining »

st0neage wrote: post #99
k-mcgrady wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>> "Official app stores are quasi-monopolies and need government control." They aren't and they don't. They are a store like any other and the store owner can decide not to sell your products without a good reason if they want to. On Android there are several alternative stores (most notably Amazon) not to mention apps can be installed directly by downloading the APK without any device modification. >> "Think about a…

>> They aren't and they don't. They are a store like any other and the store owner can decide not to sell your products without a good reason if they want to. On Android there are several alternative stores (most notably Amazon) not to mention apps can be installed directly by downloading the APK without any device modification. It's the same as with internet explorer on windows back in the day. google play is preins…

The Internet Explorer bundling was only illegal because Microsoft was abusing one monopoly (Windows) to kill the competition in another market (Browsers).

Android doesn't have a monopoly on the smartphone market, so they are far from having a monopoly on App Stores. A developer has alternatives to publish his or her apps.

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

#115

Post by duncanawoods »

Dare I say it but when a company has a certain level of dominance in a "channel" then they need be subject to regulation.

A channel might be any means of reaching customers whether a telecomms provider, a form of media, or in this case, a device app store.

The total control a gate-keeper has on the survival of tangentially related companies by eliminating their access to customers is simply not right. They should be held accountable for their incompetence or ill-will.

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

#116

Post by Fuxy »

furyofantares wrote: post #39
NickSharp wrote: post #22

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%.

Unless they've recently renegotiated, Google only gets 5% and the other 25% goes to the carrier. I'm not sure why the carriers in the counties where Play doesn't support payments haven't been able to get Google to implement support though.

Let me get this straight. If i happen to purchase an app on goggle play and say I'm using my home wifi to install it since I value my bandwidth their still getting 25%?

I get goggle making money but a carrier who doesn't do jack making money? In what world does that make sense?

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

#117

Post by yohui »

downandout wrote: post #91
napoleoncomplex wrote: post #12

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…

An expansion may never come. When they created their new policy requiring use of Google Play for all IAP, they could have easily carved out an exception for app teams not based in countries served by their payment system. Anyone bright enough to be hired by Google to write app store policies would have been smart enough to anticipate this scenario. Since Google doesn't make glaring mistakes like this, it was intentio…

> The only logical conclusion is that Google wants all Android development outside of the countries it has named to cease immediately.

What would be the motive? More likely they didn't want to risk carving an exception (leading to e.g. scammers taking advantage of the loophole, breaking users' payment expectations, etc.) .

Restricting third-party payment methods within a curated store is related to but distinct from the issue at hand: the limited number of countries supported by Google Wallet. For that, lack of experience and/or lethargy is a simpler and sufficient explanation. No need to invent a more complicated theory.

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

#118

Post by fauigerzigerk »

rmrfrmrf wrote: post #79
napoleoncomplex wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 Go…

Do you think that's good for users though? Especially with Google's lax oversight of the marketplace? If the developer using their own payment method changed their PayPal redirect to a phishing site, would users notice? What if you implemented your own credit card payment? Where's the guarantee that you're PCI compliant? I can tell you that 99% of your users won't know what PCI compliance is. If Google allows users t…

So where does that leave your "do the dirty work yourself" argument? Apparently you don't want developers to do the dirty payment systems work themselves. Neither does Google.

So I suggest you reconsider your rather hostile attitude towards the developer who complained about Google's inactivity.

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

#119

Post by leobelle »

Small consolation for this developer, but at least you can still have your app get side installed into an Android phone. Something not possible on any other of the other two big platforms (iOS and Windows Phone). I know being out of Google Play means downloads drop to near 0, maybe someone just needs to compete with Google on the App Store. Someone other than Amazon because they have their own IAP policy.

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

#120

Post by k-mcgrady »

lifeisstillgood wrote: post #82
k-mcgrady wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Oh come on, Developer wants to build Android app, developer builds Android app, developer puts faith in Google that Google will make it possible for app to get paid. This is exactly the process Google implicitly wants to have happen, its what we all want to have happen. Google just fumbled

>> "developer puts faith in Google that Google will make it possible for app to get paid"

And when you're running a business that's an incredibly stupid thing to do.

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