Will Google have a phone number?
Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
71–80 of 98 posts
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#72Earlier quoted context omitted.
Minimally, for one who wants to keep a personal number private, this will raise the barrier to entry with an ongoing cost for a separate number. Still, it’s a win for less technical users -- who ostensibly have never installed an alternative store -- considering they’ll be less likely to recognize scammy apps like the flashlights of old.
But Google can confirm that stuff without display it to the end user. That’s the role the intermediary should play.
Yeah, I agree with that too; it would be preferable if the privacy concern was “only” that it has to be sent to Google and not be displayed publicly.
I think there is another point that it eases support contact for users to developers. But I disagree with that, I think. The developers should be able to decide for themselves how to provide that information, as well as what to provide.
But then that has issues considering developers who might choose “send a letter to this PO box”, so there still has to be some verification that it’s not “too” inconvenient to the end user. From that angle, Google might prefer to dictate these terms.
I see that Google likes to be heavy-handed (and is being so), which I don’t like to see, but this might actually be a positive for someone other than Google (or their business partners), which I do like to see.
That being said, I’m not sure if the positive outweighs the negative. I also suspect Google’s intentions (to say the least) and consider that they really like the extra phone numbers they’ll get people to cough up. It’s certainly interesting to think about.
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#73The page isn’t clear on if the info has to be shown or can be shown. I get doing more to verify developers (ignoring what I think of DUNS). But acting as an individual developer if I were to think of creating an app for Android and saw that I had to publicly post my phone number that would be an absolute dead stop to development.
Minimally, for one who wants to keep a personal number private, this will raise the barrier to entry with an ongoing cost for a separate number. Still, it’s a win for less technical users -- who ostensibly have never installed an alternative store -- considering they’ll be less likely to recognize scammy apps like the flashlights of old.
This is super trivial, a malicious actor will just use one of the thousands of free receive only sms to confirm
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#74Earlier quoted context omitted.
2 -- what? No. I'm not a business, I'm a hobbyist. I'm developing a thing I want to share for free with the world. I don't care if it's pseudonymous and I can't build a brand with it. But I want my network not to have to jump through hoops to install it.
A business is a legal entity, a way to separate certain liabilities from your personal name. If you don't want to sell something, that's fine, but that is tangent to owning a business or not. What you want to do is publish your software without divulging your personal information. The proper way to do that is run your own business (eg: "Colanderman, LLC") and use that to satisfy public information requirements. Note,…
> What you want to do is publish your software without divulging your personal information. The proper way to do that is run your own business (eg: "Colanderman, LLC") and use that to satisfy public information requirements.
This is terrible situation for "just" publishing a software. Fortunately, we can use alternative app store on Android, but it's not widely used (at least in western worlds).
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#75There's more Play news, unfortunately... Two days ago, I updated Stellarium Mobile. On launch, it now requires that you are logged into the Play Store. No more anonymous Android usage. I emailed the developer with what I saw in adb logcat, they came back yesterday with this: > I see your point. The new google verification code requires a google play account it seems. It works with some third party stores, but you nee…
Aurora still works, you just can't use the search, you enable the search tab and it directs to google play in browser , then you hit a button to send the direct link back to app
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#76Several years ago I discovered that the Chrome Web Store was giving out my home address to customers on the email receipt. There was no physical address set in my Chrome Web Store developer profile, but there was an address set in Google Pay. (This was before the Chrome Web Store eliminated its payment system.)
As soon as I found out, I changed my business address to Google's own address in Mountain View. Google didn't seem to have a problem with this, or didn't notice it anyway.
The "good news" is that my Chrome Web Store sales were quite low. But I never would have known if a customer hadn't emailed me a copy of their receipt (perhaps to get a refund, I don't recall).
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#77Earlier quoted context omitted.
But Google can confirm that stuff without display it to the end user. That’s the role the intermediary should play.
Yeah, I agree with that too; it would be preferable if the privacy concern was “only” that it has to be sent to Google and not be displayed publicly. I think there is another point that it eases support contact for users to developers. But I disagree with that, I think. The developers should be able to decide for themselves how to provide that information, as well as what to provide. But then that has issues consider…
Mandating a support site or an email or something like that makes total sense to me.
It’s publishing real world addresses or phone numbers that really worries me. Either you have to give up your privacy and possibly be in danger or pay extra to avoid it by buying a phone number or a PO Box somewhere.
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#78What services offer long term phone numbers without be having to create new "lines" on my cellular plan? I currently use an app called "Hushed" but it is extremely expensive, especially compared to how much raw providers like Twilio charge. There seem to be plenty of "disposable" phone number apps but I just want cheap extra numbers, without having to write code.
What is preventing you from keeping a Twilio phone number long-term?
I have no way to "use" the number - I need an app that lets me make phone calls and texts.
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#79What services offer long term phone numbers without be having to create new "lines" on my cellular plan? I currently use an app called "Hushed" but it is extremely expensive, especially compared to how much raw providers like Twilio charge. There seem to be plenty of "disposable" phone number apps but I just want cheap extra numbers, without having to write code.
Google Voice...
Is it not the case that Google Voice only lets you have one additional number? I need a few.
Re: Google now requires and lists phone number in Play Store listings
#80What services offer long term phone numbers without be having to create new "lines" on my cellular plan? I currently use an app called "Hushed" but it is extremely expensive, especially compared to how much raw providers like Twilio charge. There seem to be plenty of "disposable" phone number apps but I just want cheap extra numbers, without having to write code.
Any VoIP provider, I suppose. I have a few phone numbers at voip.ms, have a VoIP phone on my desk, and selectively forward the numbers to my cell phone. Outbound calls from a cellphone using such a number is a bit more awkward, requiring either a SIP app or calling into the system before punching in the number to dial. (Maybe there are apps to simplify this by now?) SMS is even more awkward, though there are some API…
I guess that would be OK except I primarily need SMS.