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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

#91

Post by downandout »

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

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

#92

Post by 4mnt »

ishansharma wrote: post #25
alkonaut wrote: post #16

I feel it's an obvious problem that apps that allow IAP are listed as free. Has google or apple fixed this yet? When browsing for apps there you may see a top app being free and another costing $1. You pick the "free" one and it turns out it is useless without an IAP whereas the $1 app perhaps would not. It turns out the free app costs $2 in order to function as well as the $1 app. The consumer friendly thing to do w…

Apple has a small note saying "Offer In App Purchases" below "Free" button. Though you have to view the app page for that. In iTunes & Web, there's a section for popular IAP under the app icon.

Google has that too on the app page, right below the download button.

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

#93

Post by zrgiu_ »

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…

I had one of the first 100 apps ever published on Google Play (then called Android Market). After a few months being live, I eventually implemented my own in app purchases using PayPal. Back then Google had no support for any kind of paid apps (only free apps were allowed), and Apple hadn't introduced IAPs. Still, Google removed my app 3 times before I gave up republishing it. Also, in the classic Google style, when I tried to reason with them, I was simply ignored.

PS: my country still isn't allowed to sell apps, although it's an EU country.

EDIT: I want to add a clarification: Google always had this thing put in Google Play's terms and conditions. It was there when Android Market was unveiled, although another year and a half passed until they slowly started allowing people to sell apps. And they did it knowingly, just to push free apps which have ads as the only way of monetizing. Google IS an advertising company after all (98% of their revenue, right?)

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

#94

Post by spacemanmatt »

beaumartinez wrote: post #31
ytch wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But Google usually uses "Android is more open then Apple" as a slogan to attract people, while Apple doesn't says they are open.

Android is more open than iOS. You're conflating Android with the Google Play Store. With Android, you can install apps from more than one store.

You are always free to publish your own Android app from your website, implement any and every payment method you like, and get filthy rich from it. You don't have to give Google 30%. That's only if you want to get marketed on their app store.

Compare to Apple, where there is no choice but sell through the app store. Side-loading is cryptographically prevented. App store or nothing.

I'd say Android is more open.

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

#95

Post by furyofantares »

lokedhs wrote: post #75
furyofantares wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

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.

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

#96

Post by johnchristopher »

Simp wrote: post #57

To be honest, it's a little understandable. Unlike on the iPhone, you can get your software from anywhere you want. You are not obligated to use the Play store to get this app. That being said, would any store allow you to display your product in their vitrine, yet not get a cut when you they sell it for you? Do you think Steam would allow this?

Well, there is that store at Redmond where they seem to be willing to pay to get any dev's products in their vitrin :]. They might still get a cut though.

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

#97

Post by SquareWheel »

4mnt wrote: post #92
ishansharma wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has a small note saying "Offer In App Purchases" below "Free" button. Though you have to view the app page for that. In iTunes & Web, there's a section for popular IAP under the app icon.

Google has that too on the app page, right below the download button.

As far as I can tell though, there's no way to tell what the IAP are on Android. And because most of them involve buying "gems", I just don't bother with free any more.

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

#98

Post by babuskov »

rmrfrmrf wrote: post #44
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…

> 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…

There are no challenges, they are either lazy or doing this on purpose. I have AdSense for a couple of my websites and receiving payments monthly from it, so obviously sending payments from Google to my country is not a problem. Why can't the Play Store earnings be delivered the same way?

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

#99

Post by st0neage »

k-mcgrady wrote: post #45
st0neage wrote: post #30

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." 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 preinstalled so that is what the majority of users use. it IS a quasi-monopoly. and with this, googles freedom to choose not to sell a particular app is gone.

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