Chris, as I said to Warren.. how many end users of your game are willing to go through that extra long process to buy things? Why google/android would NOT want to make almost free money by providing their google checkout as a built in API and allow games/apps to use it in-game/app to offer goods, and NOT leave the game.. either charge it to some sort of paypal like account (can't remember if google checkout ties to credit cards, or paypal, or has a paypal like thing where you transfer money to it for use)... but really the best solution all around is for google to provide an API that they make money off of, the carrier (when applicable) can make some money off of, and the game developer makes at least 50% of the purchase price. Everyone wins. I don't see a thing wrong with it. I am no lawyer, so maybe there are legal ramifications I just can't see.. but I believe not only would everyone win, more developers would use it, more developers would want to write for Android knowing they have another avenue of making money, and the Android platform as a whole would benefit and grow larger.
I am curious tho.. with google pulling out of China.. is Android on phones in China going to be out of the question for us now? That would suck.. with 500 million potential end users!! Get a friend to translate to Chinese, and you got a HUGE market of potential buyers for games.. especially puzzle games that get snapped up all the time. On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 11:38 AM, chris harper <[email protected]> wrote: > Warren > > My app is still in development but this is what I am doing. Within my app I > open a web browser to my site where I am using ZenCart. > http://www.zen-cart.com/ > > ZenCart handles all my store process and credit card processing. Once a > user selects an item and makes a payment (which are characters that my app > uses in my case) they can then download the new character (in a .zip file) > which my app takes and installs. > > What WAS the way I was going to do it but from what I am reading I am not > sure that Google will allow that. > > If I can't do that within my app then I am asking the Google Development > guys want my alternative solution is? > > (queue tumble weed blowing by and cricket chirping in background) > > ;-) > > -Chris > > > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 12:28 PM, Warren <[email protected]> wrote: > >> An in-app purchase API would be ideal for many reasons. It would spare >> users from having to enter credit card information repeatedly. It >> could also take advantage of carrier billing where it is available. It >> could also provide more revenue for Google. >> >> The question was asked about how else to do credit card charges. >> >> Without an API option, I would likely send the user to a payment >> processor like Amazon or PayPal. That way the user deals directly with >> a proven system and I don't have the liability of handling credit card >> data. Then the processor sends my server a notification of successful >> payment. I checked and both of Amazon and PayPal have micro >> transaction rates that are far better than the standard $.30 + 3% for >> small values. >> >> This is just on the technical end, assuming you have met the Market >> Agreement details. >> >> >> On Mar 23, 12:29 pm, Kevin Duffey <[email protected]> wrote: >> > I dont know that I agree Chris.. this issue is not resolved in my >> opinion. >> > There needs to be a definitive response from google, maybe not here, but >> > perhaps from a developer that has dealt with this issue. >> > >> > The problem with using the market for updates.. is that it's going to >> flood >> > the market with items that end users have to scroll thru to find other >> apps, >> > and they are updates. How the heck is that any good? What google should >> do >> > is provide an "update" section to the market, so that developers can put >> > game expansions, in-game items, etc in that section and NOT pollute the >> main >> > apps/games section of the market. A user will stay on a web page for >> about 3 >> > seconds on average before they get bored and leave if it takes too long >> to >> > load. How long will end users scroll through a list of mostly >> > add-ons/in-game updates if they are intermixed with all the other apps. >> I >> > know I don't spend that much time, at most I "load more" a couple of >> times. >> > If the market doesn't get cleaned up, it's going to deter more and more >> > users and degrade the overall android experience. I am baffled as to why >> the >> > market doesn't get some sort of regular updates that make it better. As >> far >> > as I can tell, it's a locked app on our devices, but it's an app. Is >> there >> > nobody at google hearing all the negative feedback on how it works and >> > looking to better it? >> > >> > Like I said above, this is a VERY good opportunity for Google to offer a >> > built-in API (or an add-on SDK api so that 1.5+ android apps can take >> > advantage of it, not just 2.2+ when it could come out) that provides a >> > single sign-on device form.. the device owner only has to fill in their >> > paypal/google checkout info once, and all apps can make use of it for >> > in-game purchases. Google takes a cut, and makes money. Apple is >> freaking >> > huge due to iTunes.. this would be the same thing for google. Provide us >> > with the checkout/purchase API, and take a cut, 25%, 30%, whatever. >> > >> > It's evident a LOT of game developers, and even app developers, want to >> have >> > a way to make some money. Microtransactions has been reported on as >> being >> > one of the biggest things coming up for making money. Developers may not >> > make much on their games alone, but if their game offers simple in-game >> > purchases of some sort, the developer has another avenue of making some >> > money. The end result is more developers work this in to their >> apps/games, >> > providing more/longer lasting games, and Android benefits, and google >> > benefits too by actually making some money. I see nothing wrong with >> this at >> > all, I think it's fair if google put the leg work into the purchasing >> api >> > that we can all use, they get a cut. >> > >> > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 10:20 AM, chris harper <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> > > Ok... Ok. >> > >> > > Guys. >> > >> > > I didn't realize that Google does not allow In-App Purchasing. >> > > After searching around the internet I see that Apple just allowed >> their >> > > developers this option but we do not have the same ability. >> > >> > > That kind of sucks but that's how it is. I currently have a little >> rain >> > > cloud above me and my PC as I write this. >> > >> > > I am ready to move on now. >> > >> > > I have to do some redesign on my app. I see am now going to go the >> same >> > > route that this application is doing: >> > >http://phandroid.com/2009/11/23/android-in-app-purchases-breached-by-. >> .. >> > >> > > Where they just make "updates" to there app available on the Market >> for >> > > additional features that they want their users to buy. >> > >> > > So my simple question is does anyone have any examples (or threads) >> that >> > > show or talk about how to update your app with another updated apk >> WITHOUT >> > > reinstalling the whole app again? >> > > So just to add updated features? >> > > This way I can put my app out there and put my updates in additional >> apk >> > > files on the market which users can buy. >> > >> > > Does anyone have any examples how the best practice is to do this? >> > > It involves app keys and all that I presume. >> > >> > > Thank you >> > >> > > On Tue, Mar 23, 2010 at 11:14 AM, polyclefsoftware <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> > >> > >> > > > > Disconnect wrote: >> > >> > "Ad revenue is a fee charged to the user" fails the 'reasonable >> > >> > person/common man' test. >> > >> > >> And what about the other part of my question? What makes you >> > >> absolutely certain that in-app purchases are forbidden under the >> > >> Market Agreement? >> > >> > >> I think as others in this discussion have demonstrated, the policy is >> > >> far from crystal clear. >> > >> > >> > ..and it STILL doesn't say "ask us about our contracts". (For that >> > >> matter, >> > >> > there is a market support forum. Try there.) >> > >> > >> Hah...good one. You'd have better luck putting a written note in a >> > >> bottle and throwing it in your swimming pool. >> > >> > >> Look, this and other policies that directly impact what and how we >> > >> develop apps are not always clear (another example is tethering). >> > >> Third-party legal advice will not resolve these ambiguities. The >> > >> clarification must come from Google. >> > >> > >> Some other Google services provide this type of business contact. >> > >> Android does not. 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