Android Market: Could Planned Dev Outage Mean Big Things?

Before you Chicken-Littles start screaming that the sky is falling, PAY ATTENTION: this should in no way affect consumers, people using android apps/games, or people who want to access android market on their phone and download apps/games, upgrade apps/games or return apps/games they already purchased. This should only affect developers.

That being said, here is the e-mail I just received from the Google Android Team

Hello,

We’re writing to inform you about a planned service outage impacting Android Market that requires your attention.

We plan to perform maintenance on the Android Market Developer Console on Thursday 18 November 2010 from 10AM to 4PM Pacific Standard Time. During this time, there will be view-only access to the Developer Console at http://market.android.com/publish. You will be able to view your list of applications and error reports; however, you will not be able to upload new apps or make updates to existing apps. The publish status of your applications and use of the Android Market app on phones should not be impacted.

Thanks, and we appreciate your patience while we work to improve Android Market.

Regards,
The Android Market Team

So there a couple things to note here:

I’m really hoping this means some type of overhaul or at least laying the groundwork and infrastructure for an overhaul. At Google IO we heard about some awesome plans Google had for Android Market in the coming year. Yesterday, at the Web 2.0 conference, Eric Schmidt talked about the opportunity to build upon the “application layer” as he called it and even discussed the huge opportunity on “distribution of digital media”.

Combine that verbage and I immediately think “Google’s version of iTunes?” but I wouldn’t dare actually jump to that conclusion – only hope for it. But remember that back in July we were promised Google Music to launch at the end of the year (or early 2011). After promising “a day you’ll never forget”, Apple announced that the Beatles were finally available on iTunes. While it may have strong monetary implications, in terms of strategy it isn’t that big of a deal. Could Google be laying the groundwork for their own version of  “a day you’ll never forget”?

I’m sure they’re working on some huge things, but I doubt we’ll see anything substantial this week. However, we do have a lot of Android Market goodies to look forward to. I would love to be surprised by Google TV options within Android Market’s back end but that’s not likely to come until 2011. I would love to see advanced features for a full on website or desktop software to browse apps, games, ebooks, and beyond. Maybe Google is giving developers/publishers options in relation to the Amazon Android Market we’ve heard so much about?

Chances are that this is just a regular old boring maintenance release, just as the tone of the e-mail states… but can’t an Android-lover hope?

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