Lower 15% Google Play fee offered for Wear OS, Android Auto integrations
Google is offering Android app developers a lowered Google Play commission rate if they agree to add deeper integration for Google platforms like WearOS and Android Auto in their apps.
Like Apple's App Store, Google charges a 30% commission fee for transactions in the Google Play Store. While it has already announced one program to reduce the fee for some developers, it has introduced a second that could make the change more permanent for larger apps.
Called the Play Media Experience Program, Google hopes to encourage developers of Android apps to support other platforms than just smartphones, specifically others that Google also manages. This entails making apps in various categories work with Google's other platforms.
For example, video apps will have to enable integration with Android TV, Google TV, and Google Cast, complete with cross-device playback and sign-in integrations. Audio apps will have to integrate with WearOS, Android Auto, Android TV, and Google Cast.
Lastly, reading apps will need to include tablet and foldable optimizations, Wear OS and Android Auto for audiobooks, and Google's Entertainment Space discovery platform.
Apps also have to provide a good user experience with a strong Google Play rating, have a developer account in good standing, and other additional requirements depending on the type of apps being produced. The apps also need to achieve at least 100,000 monthly active installs on Google Play to qualify.
In exchange for meeting the criteria, developers are said to benefit from "additional discovery and engagement opportunities across devices," as well as a reduction of the commission from 30% to 15%.
This is not the only program Google operates to lower the commission fee. In a program that follows the same lines as an Apple initiative, Google lowers the commission fee to 15% for the first $1 million in revenue earned by an app per year, before raising up to 30%.
It appears that the new program may be beneficial to established and larger apps, as the 15% applies beyond the first $1 million, making it an attractive offer for some developers.
It remains to be seen if Apple will offer its own counter proposal to developers for its own ecosystem. Given the continued attention and scrutiny the App Store finds itself under for the commission fee, it is plausible Apple could also implement something similar for developers within its own ecosystem.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Like Apple's App Store, Google charges a 30% commission fee for transactions in the Google Play Store. While it has already announced one program to reduce the fee for some developers, it has introduced a second that could make the change more permanent for larger apps.
Called the Play Media Experience Program, Google hopes to encourage developers of Android apps to support other platforms than just smartphones, specifically others that Google also manages. This entails making apps in various categories work with Google's other platforms.
For example, video apps will have to enable integration with Android TV, Google TV, and Google Cast, complete with cross-device playback and sign-in integrations. Audio apps will have to integrate with WearOS, Android Auto, Android TV, and Google Cast.
Lastly, reading apps will need to include tablet and foldable optimizations, Wear OS and Android Auto for audiobooks, and Google's Entertainment Space discovery platform.
Apps also have to provide a good user experience with a strong Google Play rating, have a developer account in good standing, and other additional requirements depending on the type of apps being produced. The apps also need to achieve at least 100,000 monthly active installs on Google Play to qualify.
In exchange for meeting the criteria, developers are said to benefit from "additional discovery and engagement opportunities across devices," as well as a reduction of the commission from 30% to 15%.
This is not the only program Google operates to lower the commission fee. In a program that follows the same lines as an Apple initiative, Google lowers the commission fee to 15% for the first $1 million in revenue earned by an app per year, before raising up to 30%.
It appears that the new program may be beneficial to established and larger apps, as the 15% applies beyond the first $1 million, making it an attractive offer for some developers.
It remains to be seen if Apple will offer its own counter proposal to developers for its own ecosystem. Given the continued attention and scrutiny the App Store finds itself under for the commission fee, it is plausible Apple could also implement something similar for developers within its own ecosystem.
Keep up with everything Apple in the weekly AppleInsider Podcast -- and get a fast news update from AppleInsider Daily. Just say, "Hey, Siri," to your HomePod mini and ask for these podcasts, and our latest HomeKit Insider episode too.If you want an ad-free main AppleInsider Podcast experience, you can support the AppleInsider podcast by subscribing for $5 per month through Apple's Podcasts app, or via Patreon if you prefer any other podcast player.
Comments
Another possibility: Google and Samsung have collaborated a lot more over the past year or so. I wonder if Samsung has been telling them "this is why our products sell - they're pretty good, not as good as Apple but the next best thing - and your's doesn't - they stink" and Google is finally listening.
Another word for business is "trade". Google understands that it would be more expensive for developers to support a broader range of devices, so in exchange for that extra cost, they get to keep more of their sales. To me, that's a fair trade.
The last I could find is from four years ago and there was actually a higher percentage of Android users interested in Android Auto, and a much higher number of them considered it a "must-have", than there were iOS owners interested in CarPlay. Do you have something more recent to offer? Everything I find is relatively old.
The internet stopped being a reliable source of information a long time ago, far too many posters who pretend to know what they're talking about but in reality never spent a moments research or had any formal education on the topic. Much of the time you now have to spend time looking for and reading different sources to come away with any decent understanding.
Regarding the apps, you need to look no further than the usual suspects (Sensor Tower, App Annie etc) to get some indications. Should be similar to Car Play.
Or what did you have in mind?
https://www.apple.com/ios/carplay/available-models/
https://www.android.com/auto/compatibility/
There are more links available for Android Auto, but one is probably representative enough.
If you can find that your vehicle is supported, whatever your choice, then you're golden.