Android Market
Overview
Android Market online software store developed by Google for Android devices. An app called “Android Market” is preinstalled on Google branded Android devices and allows users to browse and download applications published by third-party developers, hosted on Market.
Android market is a Google licensed software, and it is not open source software.
Android Market was presented on Google I/O conference on October 2008. Market is available for Android phones, tablets and other Android devices.
Moreover Market helps developers get distribution, it will be a place where users can go and download content. Billing system would allow content providers to get paid for.
This way of software selling lets developers to make money easily, they don’t need worry about promoting and providing, what they made.
Android Market is an open system, anyone is able to publish content, all you need is to register, upload, describe and publish application or games.
For developers Google has prepared an analytics and statistics for planning and improving business.
For users there is a possibility to comment and describe what developers have published.
All infrastructure, support for free and paid apps, and control is provided by Google.
Android Market is similar to Apple’s App Store, but there are some differents.
Google don’t approve any software, it means that anyone is able to public games and apps. This process is much more open then App Store.
There will be a possibility to download free software – Market is offering free games and applications for Android users.
Next advantage is revenue sharing model, developer and carrier can make an arrangement about charges – 70% goes to developer, 25% takes carrier and 5% is for preservation.
Revenue earned from the Android Market is paid to developers via Google Checkout merchant accounts.
Criticism:
- Google checkout only way to buy
- Hard to find paid apps
- Various intermittent problems
- Paid apps only in few countries – priced applications are currently only available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Japan.
Gallery
The most successful paid apps:
March 14, 2010
Paid apps downloaded 50000-250000 times:
- DocumentsToGo Full Version – price $19.99
- Open Home – Full – price $3.99
- Better Keyboard – price $2.99
- Facebook Pro – price ÂŁ1.50
- PoliceStream – price $1.80
- Beautiful Widgets – price €1.49
- Power Manager Full – price $0.99
Paid games downloaded 50000-250000 times:
- Robo Defense – price $2.99
- Jewellust – price $2.95
History
Android Market was launched on 23 October 2008, and for first months it works as a beta with free software, because billing features will be implemented on Q1 2009. It had just over 50 apps on start.
It’s simple and clean to navigate download system. The main menu consists of a bar with featured apps, and a list of the main categories as Applications, Games, Search and My Downloads.
After one month, on November 28, Medialets has revealed list of the most popular downloads from Android Market. Namco classic game Pac-Man, with more than 250,000 downloads, and average 4.5 out of 5 user rating was first over almost 300 apps.
Next apps as MySpace Mobile, The Weather Channel, ShopSavvy, Ringdroid, imeem Mobile, Shazam, Rings Extended, Bonsai Blast and Brain Genius Deluxe scored between 50,000 and 250,000 downloads each.
On 1st-quarter of 2009, this Google powered system has 4 competitors: Apple App Store, BlackBerry Application Centre, Nokia Download! and Palm Software Store.
On December 31, 2008 Google sent an email to Android Market participants about paid apps. Payment systems will be implemented in first quarter of 2009 in the U.S. and U.K., next in Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands, and later in France, Italy, and Spain. By the end of Q1 2009, will be announced list of another supported countries.
On January 18, 2009 Eric Chu announced that Android Market will become available to users in Germany, Poland, Austria, Netherlands, and Czech Republic. It is related with launching Android phones across Europe.
On a conference dedicated to fourth-quarter of results, Google annouced that on Android Market there were more than 800 applications.
On 25 January 2009 was annouced information about first harmful app for Android. “MemoryUp Personal” is destroying personal data when installed onto a handset.
On February 2009 new RC33 Firmware 1.1 update include such Android Market functions as update check and comment spam marking. Moreover, RC33 update moves the Android Market out of Beta.
On February 13, 2009 was annouced information about accepting priced applications from US and UK developers. Google Checkout is the payment and billing system for Android Market. Developers in Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, and Spain will be offered priced applications later Q1 2009.
On February 15 applications in Android Market become available to users in Australia.
On February 17 priced applications become available to end users.
After few days there was a few applications around $25, $15 and $10. There was low cost apps – 136 for $1 and 42 for $2.
After one week there was 227 applications, from 99 cents to $34.99, and 148 games, from 99 cents to $9.99. A total number of priced applications in the Android Market was 375.
On March 2009 Cole Brodman, T-Mobile’s CTO, said that Android Market need better filtering and searching.
On March Google announced that they are going to introduce Android Market app store to South Korea, as early as Q3 2009.
On March T-mobile has reported that average user of G1 phone at T-Mobile USA has downloaded more than 40 applications from the Android Market.
At this time there was more than 2,300 applications in the Market,
On 31 March Google has banned tethering application from the Android Market for violating the developer distribution agreement.
It was a result of violation the T-Mobile terms of service – this wireless carrier doesn’t allow tethering.
After few days Google restored tethering app for Android users outside the T-Mobile US network.
After six months there was 1438 apps on Market – 790 applications and 648 games. Only 12 applications was paid. Number of paid games is 266. About 30 apps and games was downloaded more then 2500000 times.
On May 6th, 2009 Android Market Support Team has written about several changes.
Market gained abilities for developers to:
- target new countries such Canada, France, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland
- support local language for English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Czech, Polish
- support paid apps for Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain
- required identification of minimum SDK version supported for new/updated apps
Moreover, Android Market Support Team, recommend to focus on making sure that 1.1 app works properly on 1.5 devices.
On May 28th, 2009, Android Market Support Team has written that developers can target new countries – Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Greece, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan.
On June 30th, 2009 problem with “App Update Available” notification has been reported. “App Update Available” is a feature responsible for notification that newer version of that application is available in Android Market.
On September 2009 developer of the Cyanogen Android ROM was asked by Google to not modify Google licensed software, like Android Market, becaus is not open source.
On September 2009 Google launched Android 1.6. New release contained a lot of new functionality in Android Market:
Some News from Android Market
Posted by Eric Chu, Android Mobile Platform on 03 September 2009 at 3:30 PM
I’m pleased to let you know about several updates to Android Market. First, we will soon introduce new features in Android Market for Android 1.6 that will improve the overall experience for users. As part of this change, developers will be able to provide screenshots, promotional icons and descriptions that will better show off applications and games.We have also added four new sub-categories for applications: sports, health, themes, and comics. Developers can now choose these sub-categories for both new and existing applications via the publisher website. Finally, we have added seller support for developers in Italy. Italian developers can go to the publisher website to upload applications and target any of the countries where paid applications are currently available to users.
To take advantage of the upcoming Android Market refresh, we encourage you to visit the Android Market publisher website and upload additional marketing assets. Check out the video below for some of the highlights.
On November 4th, 2009, T-Mobile add carrier billing for the Android Market, as well as its own channel within the software portal.
Moreover, T-Mobile shared some interesting information from its current myTouch 3G users that is worth passing along.
- About half myTouch users visit the Android Market at least once per day.
- More than 40% of myTouch users access social networking sites multiple times per day.
- 80% of myTouch users browse the web at least once per day, and 2/3 say several times per day.
- Nearly half of myTouch users say they have “completely customized” their myTouch.
On November 11th, 2009, Google introduced new Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement.
On November 11th, there was more then 10000 apps on Market.
On December 16th, 2009 Google has informed that there are 16,000 active applications in Android Market.
On December 2009 a developer Droid09 uploaded a malicious (phishing) application to Android Market.
The application was removed from Android Market.
On February 23rd, 2010, ZDNet has reported that Android Market is the 2nd largest application store with 19,297 apps compared to Apple’s 150,998 apps. Nokia’s Ovi Store is 3rd with 6,118 apps.
On March 2010, Microsoft has released first application designed to work with Android devices. This “Tag” application is already available for other platforms, like Windows Mobile, Symbian, the iPhone, BlackBerry and handsets.
Supported phones
Nexus One
HTC Dream (T-mobile G1), HTC Magic (T-Mobile myTouch 3G), HTC Hero (Droid Eris), HTC Tattoo, HTC Desire, HTC Legend
Motorola Droid (Milestone), Motorola Cliq (Dext), Motorola Backflip, Motorola DEVOUR, Motorola CLIQ XT (QUENCH), Motorola XT800
Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Behold 2, Samsung Moment, Samsung Spica
Acer Liquid A1, Acer Liquid E, Acer beTouch E110, Acer beTouch E400
Sony Ericsson Xperia X10, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini, Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 mini pro
Garmin nuvifone A50
Alcatel OT-980
Huawei U8220 (T-mobile Pulse), Huawei U8230
LG GW620 Eve
Dell Mini 3iX
Android Market Business and Program Policies
- Android Market is owned and operated by Google Inc.
- You have 48Â hours from the time of purchase (not download) for a full refund of any applicable fees.
- Android Market does not provide upgrade functionality (but RC33 Firmware include update check function).
- You are allowed an unlimited number of reinstalls of each application obtained via the Market.
- Google retains the right to remotely remove some applications from your Device.
- Google is not responsible for billing disputes.
- Google does not provide customer support for Products distributed by Developers on Android Market.
Google don’t allow content that contains:
- nudity and sexually explicit material
- violent or bullying behavior
- hate speech
- private & confidential information
- malicious products
- prohibited products
- illegal activities
- copyright infringement
Only users 13 years of age or older are permitted to use Android Market.
What is your opinion about Android Market ?
January 23rd, 2010 at 5:21 pm
In my opinion android market is poorly designed and managed yet.
Considering that the Apple Apps Store is not much better.
February 5th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
We’ve published the BrainGoal! game on the Android market (currently ONLY on the Android market).
We’ve uploaded two versions – one is a demo and the second is Pro.
We had more than 3,000 downloads in one month.
Two problems that occured:
1. The game crashed on several models, even though on the development cell it worked smoothly.
2. The demo game has not appeared in several countries, even though we haven’t put any limitations on it. The Pro has obviously limited distribution as well.
The market’s technical support is very limited – no real answers can be get. The problems are slowly solved and though, the game is cool …
February 14th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Some facts – Android Market vs Apple App Store
Both Apple and Google offer a free SDK, so you are able to start making application immediately with no cost.
Apple App Store – for testing you will need a Mac with Leopard Mac OS X. If you are going to sell your app and games, you will need to sign contract with Apple, and pay $99.
When your application is ready for release you’ll need to wait for Apple approval before it will become available in the Apple App Store.
If you want to sell your application, you’ll get 70% and Apple will take a 30% cut to cover their costs.
Android Market – to get full access to their resources and sell your app you will need to sign an agreement and pay a $25 registration fee. When your application is ready you can publish it directly on Android Market. If you want to sell your application, you’ll get 70%, the other 30% goes to wireless carriers and Google.
Programming Language – Android is a Java based environment, for the iPhone you’ll need to use ObjectiveC.
February 18th, 2010 at 1:44 am
In Android Market paid apps on my Droid, some named Anonymous has assigned 5 stars to many of the paid apps to float his comments to top of list. But he is actually promoting his own web site androidplayground.net. I tagged many as SPAM but u shud search that list for that URL & remove all his SPAM comments so real user feedack comments can replace them. There’s another person doing same thing w female uname.
February 25th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Hi there, will there ever be an option to get paid apps for canada?
February 27th, 2010 at 10:56 am
Rumours say taht paid apps coming to Canadian Android Market next week.
On February 26, Google Canada spokesperson Wendy Rozeluk was quoted as saying:
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Success on Android Market
Edward Kim, developer who built the application “Car Locator” has announced that he’s pulling in $13,000 a month from the application.
Here are some of Kim’s observations:
March 3rd, 2010 at 5:27 pm
As for piracy, I think that 30% of total downloads being pirated.
As for revenue, I believe that there are only 30-40 apps netting more than $100 a day.
March 6th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Can’t figure out why google would not want to help promote apps for developers. At least offer a list by categories for those thinking about buying an android phone. this could only help sales for developers. I have a very successful golf app on iphone but without some promo or placement by google its going to be a struggle.
March 11th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
It’s certainly possible to make money off Android Market. I use ad banners in my apps – and don’t have to worry about piracy.
In the long run, I also think the revenue will be better, as ad money is recurring.
I also don’t have to worry about giving Google 30% for my hard labor, or worry about refunds, billing problems etc.
My games can be found at http://dkdroid.com
March 13th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
My favorite Android Market Games:
ExZeus Arcade
Raging Thunder 2
Retro Defense
Robo Defense
Battle for Mars