Comments on: Android Market Pricing, Geo-Targeting Details Emerge

By: Paid Android Apps Coming This Week? | Android Phone Fans

Paid Android Apps Coming This Week? | Android Phone Fans — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 23:17:52 +0000

[...] far the company line has been that Paid Android Apps will launch early Q1 2009. One could assume that “early” Q1 would mean before the midway point and we’re [...]

By: rizki

rizki — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:31:45 +0000

Anyone know about the pricing structure in detail? how will the revenue be shared between Google, developers, others? any subscription-based pricing?

By: Matija

Matija — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:43:20 +0000

I am dismayed by some of the wording in that message, specifically that saying that the apps won’t be available in countries not selected/localized-for by the developer. I live in Slovenia, which is a fairly small country, and I don’t expect many developers will bother translating their apps to Slovenian. I’m perfectly willing to buy apps in english, but it looks like the store will prevent me from doing that? GAAAAAAAHHHHHH!

By: Jason

Jason — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Just because the os is open source doesn’t mean the most popular application’s cant be closed source. Inversely, just because an os is closed source doesn’t mean there can’t be popular open source applications. However, i’m quite sure that there will be a burst of worthless crap on the Market once paid apps hit. Just people looking to make a quick buck like they did with the iPhone app store. Luckily with the Android Market, by starting off with free only, they’ve dulled that initial golddigging quite a bit.

By: Matt Gaunt

Matt Gaunt — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:14:43 +0000

I agree with both ways.

Initially there’ll be a burst of paid apps that quite simply be amazing, then as time progresses open source alternatives will start to crop up.

It’s simple up to the developers to make something of the platform and put spare time into it.

By: Dave Kaufman - Techlife

Dave Kaufman - Techlife — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:34:57 +0000

Companies like EA for gaming and Office like productivity apps are certainly planning to roll out existing codebases to this new OS/revenue stream. The paid for apps will strong.

By: Crater

Crater — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:51:53 +0000

I agree mostly with OrganizedFellow. For a paid app to be worth while they will have to do a better job of whatever the free version can, otherwise they will make no money, and have wasted their time creating the app. It will lead to better apps from everyone I think, both paid and free.

By: OrganizedFellow

OrganizedFellow — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 05:43:07 +0000

I’m voting quite the opposite of Joel above here.

I believe that paid-for-apps will be far superior than Open Source apps for the sole reason that this is a global initiative. With so many members involved with the Open Handset Alliance, it’s not too long will we can expect something from some of the MAJOR software vendors to release something worthwhile.

While the OS is OS (operating system is open source), you can’t expect ALL applications to be free.
Just cause you paid for Windows to come pre-installed or MacOS pre-installed (which you clearly paid for), doesn’t mean that free software would be inferior.
The same goes for the opposing end of the spectrum as well.

By: Joel McLaughlin

Joel McLaughlin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 03:13:13 +0000

Quite frankly, I can’t imagine paid apps doing all that well. Since Android is open source, then the open source equivalents will be what are the most popular apps on Android. Paid apps will not be able to compete with open source apps. I have seen MANY apps in the store that state that they will remain free past the end of the year.