On Mon, Jan 5, 2009 at 10:39 AM, eags <eagsala...@gmail.com> wrote: > > That is a real shame that they have decided to do that. What we are > seeing with the major fragmentation of places to get android apps from > is the result and will get worse if this policy continues. Once we go > beyond a certain point people will be used to it and the fragmentation > will be almost impossible to repair. The term "marketplace" and > google's "all apps are created equal" mantra for Android both suggest > an open and collaborative environment which is exactly what this is > not.
It's pretty clear that Google wants to control the distribution channel for mobile content. Fortunately, Android is open enough that other smaller players can enter the market. In fact SlideME Marketplace has been around a lot longer than the Android Marketplace. My expectation is that Google is going to be a ruthless in trying to knock out competition, so the fragmentation may not be as bad as you suggest. When we started out on the SAM client and SlideME over a year ago, we fully expected that Google Market would be tightly controlled and that there would be a big chunk of revenue taken out of the developer's pocket. They haven't disappointed. Our strategy has been to focus on openness and maximum payout to the developer and it is working pretty well for us and the developers. Also Google is making obvious mistakes that an experienced mobile player wouldn't make, both in terms of the Android Marketplace design, as well as the client. Now that we have the billing issue cracked, you'll see a widening gap between SlideME Marketplace and Android Market (in what I believe will be our favor). We've put in a lot of groundwork that we are just now starting to capitalize on. So a little fragmentation here is not so bad for the developer or the user. Shane --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Developers" group. To post to this group, send email to android-developers@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to android-developers-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-developers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
