Google Play: can we do...

[LucaMs]

I wonder if you can post a free app on Google Play which has the only (or almost only) purpose to advertise our own app to sell on a personal website.

Moreover, there are apps that are just advertise, such as this one, for example.

 

[HotShoe]

One of the problems with the Play store is that anyone can put about anything they want on it. Test apps, hello world stuff, anything. It makes it much harder for the "real" apps to get noticed in this sea of trash. Just my 2 cents worth.

--- Jem

 

[LucaMs]

One of the problems with the Play store is that anyone can put about anything they want on it. Test apps, hello world stuff, anything. It makes it much harder for the "real" apps to get noticed in this sea of trash. Just my 2 cents worth.

You are right.

But I wrote that post (I hope that it is understandable ) after reading this.

 

[LucaMs]

I mean:

Each of us could publish our own website through which to sell their app. Then, we publish a simple app on Google Play which addresses to our site.

You mean to say that this is not a sufficient strategy to ensure that our app is found, I suppose. This is true, but I thought of saving 30%, avoiding to publish our address and other annoyances of this kind.

 

[LucaMs]

Thinking better of it, this should not violate the rules of Google Play:
it publish, "Developer Contacts" (I read the Italian version so I do not know if the English version is exactly so)

 

[WAZUMBi]

If I understand correctly you are concerned about publicly displaying your address.
If you can publish a website to a private domain you own then your address will be available or will certainly be found rather easily.
ICANN has requirements here:
https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/responsibilities-2014-03-14-en

It only took me second to find out where the contact info for basic4ppc.com.

 

[sorex]

Luca, I just logged in the first time into the dev tool since I regged 3 weeks ago.

I got that updated agreement aswell.

I had a quick diagonal look through it but my eye spotted this...

"4.5 Andere winkels. U mag de Google Play Store niet gebruiken om Producten te distribueren of beschikbaar te stellen die als hoofddoel hebben de distributie van software-apps en games voor gebruik op Android-apparaten buiten de Google Play Store om te vergemakkelijken."

translated from dutch to english it mean something like...

"4.5 Other stores. You can not use the Google Play Store to distribute products or make products availabe with the main purpose of making the distribution of software apps and games for Android devices outside of the Google Play Store easier"

so I guess the answer to your question in post #1 is NO. (if it is about Android apps and not real live products)

 

[LucaMs]

Luca, I just logged in the first time into the dev tool since I regged 3 weeks ago.

I got that updated agreement aswell.

I had a quick diagonal look through it but my eye spotted this...

"4.5 Andere winkels. U mag de Google Play Store niet gebruiken om Producten te distribueren of beschikbaar te stellen die als hoofddoel hebben de distributie van software-apps en games voor gebruik op Android-apparaten buiten de Google Play Store om te vergemakkelijken."

translated from dutch to english it mean something like...

"4.5 Other stores. You can not use the Google Play Store to distribute products or make products availabe with the main purpose of making the distribution of software apps and games for Android devices outside of the Google Play Store easier"

so I guess the answer to your question in post #1 is NO. (if it is about Android apps and not real live products)

Yes, according to that text should be so.

So Google Play allows any leaflets but not what I mean.


(I hope that "leaflets" is the right word, GT translates it this way)



Thanks, sorex

 

[LWGShane]

If I understand correctly you are concerned about publicly displaying your address.
If you can publish a website to a private domain you own then your address will be available or will certainly be found rather easily.
ICANN has requirements here:
https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/responsibilities-2014-03-14-en

It only took me second to find out where the contact info for basic4ppc.com.

Good thing I'm the only one with ID Protection

@HotShoe - What about Google doing what every other app store does? (Hint: Moderation)

 

[HotShoe]

Good thing I'm the only one with ID Protection

@HotShoe - What about Google doing what every other app store does? (Hint: Moderation)

I wish they would, or at least have some minimum requirement for apps. A test app area with automatic deletion after a period of time or something. If they actually had marketing services it would help as well.

--- Jem

 

[LWGShane]

I wish they would, or at least have some minimum requirement for apps. A test app area with automatic deletion after a period of time or something. If they actually had marketing services it would help as well.

--- Jem

If they did, it would be a way nicer place then it already is.

 

[Beja]

I think the best bet is to publish a very limited version of your App for 99 cents, and then in the help file you can direct them to your website to upgrade to the full version.. this is fair enough to pay Google a little bit for advertising for you. 30 cents is not a big deal. Also keep in mind the many people trust Google with their credit cards than private websites even if the gateway is PayPal or your bank, so you might be losing some business as well.

 

[LWGShane]

I think the best bet is to publish a very limited version of your App for 99 cents, and then in the help file you can direct them to your website to upgrade to the full version.. this is fair enough to pay Google a little bit for advertising for you. 30 cents is not a big deal. Also keep in mind the many people trust Google with their credit cards than private websites even if the gateway is PayPal or your bank, so you might be losing some business as well.

Or just put in ads.