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Google Clamps Down On Spam, Intrusive Ads In Apps

Posted by Soulskill on from the their-way-or-the-highway dept.

An anonymous reader tips news that Google has sent out a letter to app developers explaining policy changes for any new apps published on the Google Play store. In-app purchases must now use Google Play's payment system unless it's for goods or services used outside the app itself. They've added language to dissuade developers from making their apps look like other apps, or like they come from other developers. But more significantly, Google has explained in detail what qualifies as spam: repetitive content, misleading product descriptions, gaming the rating system, affiliate traffic apps, or apps that send communications without user consent. Also, advertisements within apps must now follow the same rules as the app itself, and they can't be intrusive: Ads can't install things like shortcuts or icons without consent, they must notify the user of settings changes, they can't simulate notifications, and they can't request personal information to grant full app function.

3 of 122 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Don't look now... by amRadioHed · · Score: 5, Informative

    I must have missed the part about Google making it more difficult for people to install apps from 3rd party sources. Maybe you could point me to where you saw that.

    --
    We hope your rules and wisdom choke you / Now we are one in everlasting peace
  2. Re:Fuck you, Apple! by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Informative

    You could go use the Amazon market.

    I agree google is getting greedy here, but on the other hand some devs want you to upgrade to add free by paying them via paypal, which ends up meaning you have to pay again and again when you install that app on new devices.

  3. Google Play: Countries supported for billing by DragonWriter · · Score: 3, Informative

    As a very nasty side-effect of Google requiring all in-app purchases to go through Checkout, only US and UK based companies can develop apps which use in-app purchases and still be in the Play store.

    The actual list of supported countries is slightly longer. Currently:
    Argentina
    Australia
    Austria
    Belgium
    Brazil
    Canada
    Czech Republic
    Denmark
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Hong Kong
    Ireland
    Israel
    Italy
    Japan
    Mexico
    Netherlands
    New Zealand
    Norway
    Poland
    Portugal
    Russia
    Singapore
    Spain
    South Korea
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Taiwan
    United Kingdom
    United States