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.

Supported locations

Currently, all developers can choose to distribute free apps to users in the following countries:

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zeland, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States.

Currently, developers in the below countries may register as Google Checkout merchants and sell priced applications:

Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan..

Currently, developers in these locations may sell priced applications to users in the following countries:

Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Korea, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Criticism:

1. Google Checkout only way to buy
2. Hard to find paid apps
3. Paid apps only in few countries – priced applications are currently only available in the following countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States, Korea
4. Various intermittent problems
5. 24 hour return policy – user can make a backup of most apps with Astro file manager and some other file managers, then go uninstall and get a refund for the app, and then go back into the file manager and reinstall refunded app
6. Lack of marketing tools, affiliate programs, coupons etc.
7. No filter in apps list, no filtering for search results

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 £1.50
• 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

 

Larva Labs estimates that, as of June 18th, 2010, $6,000,000 has been paid out to developers for games, and $15,000,000 has been paid out on apps. That is a total of $21,000,000, almost 50x lower than the amount paid out to devs on iPhone.

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.

1. About half myTouch users visit the Android Market at least once per day.
2. More than 40% of myTouch users access social networking sites multiple times per day.
3. 80% of myTouch users browse the web at least once per day, and 2/3 say several times per day.
4. 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.

On March 16, 2010 Google has announced that Android Market has around 30,000 applications.

On April 6, 2010 AndroidLib.com has announced that Android Marketplace saw 9,331 new mobile applications added to its app store during the month of March 2010. AndroidLib.com also reported that number of Android applications has reached approx 42,000 apps.

On April 2010 analytics group Distimo has announced that, free applications on Android Market are available in 46 countries, from 25 a few weeks ago. Distimo also ranks the top selling apps, and their latest list puts Beautiful Widgets at the top followed by MyBackup Pro and Advanced Task Manager. Top selling games are Robo Defense, Jewelllust, and Tower Raiders GOLD.

On April 24, 2010 AndroidLib.com has announced that there are 50186 Android apps, and 63972 screenshots in Android Market. On April 24 Androidzoom reported only 48170 apps.

On April 25, 2010 PayPal has announced that it has found a way to incorporate its payments system with Android Market. Paypal will be providing its app payment service for purchasing Android apps from 2nd quarter 2010 and will be supported in US, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Australia, France and Italy.

On May 2010 Google has updated the Android Market website.

On May 20th, 2010 Gogole officially announced Android Froyo 2.2. Additions to Android Market:

• ability for the user to update all of their applications in one click
• option of allowing applications to auto-update.
• Android Application Error Reports

On Jun 10, 2010 AndroidLib.com has announced that there are 70000 Android apps in Android Market.

On Jun 23, at the Motorola Droid X event Google has announced that Android Market hosts 68,000 applications (includes keyboards, skins, ringtones and other thing).

July 5th, 2010. According to analytics company Distimo, 57 percent of apps found in the Android Market are available for free. Average price of apps in the Android Market sits at $3.29, and $4.27 for apps ranked in the top 100.

July 11th, 2010. According to AndroidLib Android store should reach 100,000 total apps before the end of July, and as of now is already over 90,000. The rate of growth is now high enough that AndroLib estimates over 15,000 apps were added in June alone.

On July 14, 2010 AndroLib has announced that 1 billion apps have been downloaded from Android Market to Android handsets around the world to date.

On July 15, 2010 Google has confirmed that there are only 70,000 titles in the Android Market, but the stats provided by Androlib may be different due to International markets.

From July 16th, 2010 paid applications in Android Market are available in Korea.

On July 26, 2010 Google changed Market Developer Distribution Agreement, that introduced new purchase options – paing for apps alongside monthly bill.

• In Section 13.1, “authorized carriers” have been added as an indemnified party.
• Section 13.2 is new in its entirety, covering indemnity for payment processors for claims related to tax accrual.

On July 26, 2010 AppBrain blog wrote about filtering Android Market.

Last week, we mentioned that one Android developer, “For-side.com Co. Ltd”, had completely disappeared from the Android market along with his 4,000 apps. At the end of last week, another notorious publisher, “StoneJordan”, with another 500 apps, was removed.

On July 27 2010 Google announced new licensing service for applications in Android Market.

At run time, with the inclusion of a set of libraries provided by us, your application can query the Android Market licensing server to determine the license status of your users. It returns information on whether your users are authorized to use the app based on stored sales records.

On September, 2010 Andy Rubin announced that there was 80000 apps in Android Market.

On September 24, 2010 Google informed about providing paid apps support for additional countries.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding paid apps support for additional countries. If you have selected to publish your paid apps to all locations and intend to support all new locations as we expand the number of supported countries for paid apps, you don’t have to do anything. If you have selected to publish your paid apps to all locations but intend to only target the currently supported 14 countries, please update your location selections to target these specific countries.

On September 27, 2010 analytics company Distimo has identified 13 countries which would be gaining support for paid apps over the next few weeks.
Distimo suggest that Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Finland, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Singapore and South Africa are starting to see paid apps support.

On September 27, 2010 Google has announced that over the next 2 weeks, users in 18 additional countries will be able to purchase paid apps from Android Market.

Support for paid application sales will be expanded to developers in 29 countries, with today’s additions of Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and Taiwan.

In addition, Android Market users from 32 countries will be able to buy apps, with the addition of Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, and Taiwan.

On October 05, 2010 Google has introduced paid Android Market to this countries and brought local currency display.

On October 11th, 2010 Android Market silent update brought Froyo features (auto-update, mass update, searching options, and the comments section moved to its own tab) to all handsets.

On October 25, 2010 Google announced that there are hundred thousand apps in Android Market.

On November 24, 2010 Google has announced that in the next few weeks, they’ll be showing content ratings for all apps listed in the Market.

On November 30th, 2010 Google has introduced content ratings to Android Market developer console.

On December 3rd, 2010 Android Market silent update brought “Similar” and “Related” Tab to app profile.

On 10 December 2010, Google annouced a significant update to the Android Market client.
New Android Market client introduces such features as:

1. new carousel on the home and category screens
2. two new categories for Widgets and Live Wallpapers
3. includes Related content on the app details page
4. more categories for popular applications and games
5. access all the information about an application on a single page without the need to navigate across different tabs
6. application content rating
7. refund window reduced to 15 minutes
8. support for device targeting based on screen sizes and densities, as well as on GL texture compression formats
9. increasing the maximum size for .apk files on Market to 50MB

December 27, 2010. According to AndroidLib, Android Market reach 200000 applications and games. This apps has being downloaded over 2.5 billion times.

On 02 February 2011, Google introduced Android Market on the Web.

…we have extended Android Market client from mobile devices to every desktop. Anyone can now easily find and share applications from their favorite browser. Once users select an application they want, it will automatically be downloaded to their Android-powered devices over-the-air.

On 02 February 2011, Google introduced new Merchandising and Billing Features on Android Market.

On 15th February 2011, Eric Schmidt has announced that there was 150,000 apps in the market.

On 15 February 2011, Google has given its Web-based portal of Android Market a new update by adding a hub for digital books.
Previously known as Google Editions, the books section of the Android Market site can be accessed through a tab on the homepage.
Pricing is competitive with offerings from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Apple’s iBookstore. The average price for a New York Times bestseller ranges between $9.99 and $12.99.

On 10th May 2011 Android Market, passed the 200,000-application milestone.

On 11th May 2011 Google added:
- top new free, top new paid and top grossing lists on the Android Market home page;
- an “editor’s choice” section to the market, which it said are “some of the very best apps available for Android, according to Android Market Product Managers;
- related apps section on the left of the app page in the Market. Users will now see apps frequently browsed by people who viewed this app, and apps that people are inclined to install alongside this application;
- a new trending apps section on the Android Market homepage, which signal apps that are quickly growing in daily installs;
- 150 top Android app developers will get a special icon where their name is shown on the Android Market Website.

Threats

On June 2010 mobile security company SMobile has looked into the potential privacy and security issues in more than 48,000 apps in the Android Market. The company’s findings are alarming for Android owners:

• approximately 20 per cent of Android apps request permission to access private or sensitive information
• one out of every 20 apps can place a call to any number without approval from the user
• 3 per cent of apps can send an SMS to any number
• 383 apps can read or use authentication credentials from another service or app
• twenty-nine apps request the exact same permissions as apps that SMobile categorizses as spyware
• eight apps request a specific permission that would allow the Android device to brick itself or render it “absolutely unusable”

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, HTC Wildfire

Motorola Droid (Milestone), Motorola Cliq (Dext), Motorola Backflip, Motorola DEVOUR, Motorola CLIQ XT (QUENCH), Motorola XT800, Motorola Droid X, Motorola Droid 2

Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Behold 2, Samsung Moment, Samsung Spica, Samsung Galaxy S

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, Sony Ericsson Xperia X8

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 48  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 ?

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