Android Question How to upload 2-part app to the store?

[Beja]

Hi guys,

Anyone knows how to manage a two-part app with one on Android mobile and the client on PC (b4j)?
Something like the b4a<->b4j chat example.. would Google allow directing the user to where he can
download the PC side from (my server)?

Thanks

 

[Roycefer]

If you're hosting the download (or at least having it hosted somewhere with a stable URL), you might as well just include a link to it in the app description on Google Play.

If you don't want to host the download, you can package it into the Android app as a zip file in the app's assets and then offer the user the ability to email themselves the zip file as an attachment (use the email intent). Note that Gmail doesn't allow for sending zip files that have .jars inside them so rename the .jar a .txt and instruct the user to rename it back to .jar once on their PC, if you use Gmail.

 

[Beja]

Hi Roycefer, and thanks for the response.
The Android app will communicate with a desktop application.. I want to sell the android app for $0.99 but the desktop application for $20.00, so if I left a
link to my website payment (and subsequently download) page for the $20, will that be considered violation of Google store?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Roycefer]

I think, technically, it's not a violation. My recollection is that you aren't allowed to sell products through your app that are paid for outside of Google's in-app purchase system unless it is for a good or service that is consumed outside of Google's ecosystem. An example they give is of purchasing movie tickets through an app downloaded through Google Play (this would be permissible). As you aren't selling anything through the app (if the link is in the description) and what you are selling (the desktop app) is consumed outside of the ecosystem, I think you're safe. Of course, Google can change their policies without warning and they can also decide you are in violation arbitrarily.