Our company (brand: ibolt.co) is a manufacturer of "hardware" accessories for Smartphones. A particular app, which is currently being sold on the Google Play store for less then $5. We wish to bundle this app (=include at no additional cost) and "give" to anyone buying our hardware accessory. The challenge is that from our understanding the Google Play store does NOT offer the option of entering a (for example) a 12 or 15 digit randomly generated code that we as hardware sellers could include in each package of product shipped to consumers. This would be "pre-paid" to the developer and Google (yes, they need their share I guess...).
The option of "sideloading" and providing a link via email is not a real option either as this would eliminate the verification/app protection process currently in place for the Developer to avoid that there's an unprotected app "out there" that would surely be posted on file sharing/black market type sites immediately.
For reference our "hardware" products will mostly be shipped from Amazon or purchased by the consumer in a Telecom store type Sprint, Verizon dealer. We would like to have a sticker/image on the box saying "Android app XX" included, value $4.99" or something similar.
QUESTION: Is there any technical option of solving this and including an Android app together with a piece of "hardware" and still protect the Developer with regards to license verification etc.? We are hoping there's a solution out there as many Corporate applications are "sideloaded", yet they must have some protection in place...
MikaelPe said:
Our company (brand: ibolt.co) is a manufacturer of "hardware" accessories for Smartphones. A particular app, which is currently being sold on the Google Play store for less then $5. We wish to bundle this app (=include at no additional cost) and "give" to anyone buying our hardware accessory. The challenge is that from our understanding the Google Play store does NOT offer the option of entering a (for example) a 12 or 15 digit randomly generated code that we as hardware sellers could include in each package of product shipped to consumers. This would be "pre-paid" to the developer and Google (yes, they need their share I guess...).
The option of "sideloading" and providing a link via email is not a real option either as this would eliminate the verification/app protection process currently in place for the Developer to avoid that there's an unprotected app "out there" that would surely be posted on file sharing/black market type sites immediately.
For reference our "hardware" products will mostly be shipped from Amazon or purchased by the consumer in a Telecom store type Sprint, Verizon dealer. We would like to have a sticker/image on the box saying "Android app XX" included, value $4.99" or something similar.
QUESTION: Is there any technical option of solving this and including an Android app together with a piece of "hardware" and still protect the Developer with regards to license verification etc.? We are hoping there's a solution out there as many Corporate applications are "sideloaded", yet they must have some protection in place...
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I don't think this is possible with the play store. The next best thing I can think of is for you to refund your customers directly (ie: make them purchase the app and then refunding them the money via a coupon code or something included with the hwardware.)
Master_T said:
I don't think this is possible with the play store. The next best thing I can think of is for you to refund your customers directly (ie: make them purchase the app and then refunding them the money via a coupon code or something included with the hwardware.)
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i ws thinking the same, but since you are selling your hardware in amazon, why not check if amazon app store has something to offer you?
What about in app purchase?
You can make the application free on the market, but then make your own arrangements with your customers
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well i live abroad the google play store launch countries and i did research if i can get it for a shop online for a sensible price ,to my dissapointment i found some redicilus sky high prices from uk online shops, for example the nexus 10 16gb was set at the price of 382gbp including vat, excluding shipping fees ,while i dont mind to pay a little more than 319gbp i found their pricing unreasonable i mean they are wholesale suppliers and can get it for a lot cheaper than 319 why so much profit?
i wish i had someone to uk to order it from my behalf but as it does seem i must wait for a long time...
382.00 GBP = 611.123 USD. You're right, that's quite a big hike.
Here in Australia there is a $70 premium on the unit itself plus shipping, so in the end it will probably cost me $100 MORE to order the tablet directly from Google (and the AUD is still above the USB). I really really hate regional pricing, it's unfortunate that Google has become one of the companies to do it. Hopefully they get questioned about it (The government is currently investigating the "Australia tax" that we get for hardware and software).
Not sure if this is in the right place, but here goes -
I'm interested in upgrading to a X+, but wondering if there's any benefit to buying from a merchant like Costco (which generally offers enhanced warranties, and other value-added services), as opposed to upgrading either online via my AT&T account, or at a store in person. Not sure if Costco does anything 'extra' for phones the way they do for other electronics like TVs. Just thought I'd ask.
Thanks in advance!
BillTheCat said:
Not sure if this is in the right place, but here goes -
I'm interested in upgrading to a X+, but wondering if there's any benefit to buying from a merchant like Costco (which generally offers enhanced warranties, and other value-added services), as opposed to upgrading either online via my AT&T account, or at a store in person. Not sure if Costco does anything 'extra' for phones the way they do for other electronics like TVs. Just thought I'd ask.
Thanks in advance!
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i bought it online via the att website. 199 was the total charge. no tax. I live in california where the tax is 8.75%( of the original price). so i saved about 50$ buying it online instead of the store.
Hi Guys,
Firstly as a lowly user, thanks for developing apps for us lesser mortals.
I must admit that I am a bit frustrated that I can't purchase certain apps in the UK via Samsung Gear Apps because PayPal, my debit card & Vodafone all have a minimum limit & the apps are priced below it.
The problem seems to be with the apps that are either €uro or US$ based. The minimum amount for PayPal UK is 79 pence which is more than €1 or US$1 which is where I think some developers in Europe & the USA have priced their apps. (Heart Monitor from the Netherlands is an example - cost 77p in the UK - below minimum acceptable)
Sadly I realise this will mean putting up the price a bit for people outside the UK but thinking positively it means the developers will earn more and hopefully developed more as a result.
The other option is for Samsung to buy the apps outright and offer them free to their Gear S customers? Tizen is, after all, a minnow in a large pond of ferocious fish and to gain 'full' acceptance and Samsung need to make it an attractive alternative!
Sorry Google Play Music subscribers. It looks like you won’t be getting an advertised three month credit when you purchase a new LG Nexus 5X or Huawei Nexus 6P. In the terms for the Play Nexus 90 promotion, it says the following:
“The Offer is only open to residents in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Switzerland, Belgium, Norway, Poland, Greece, Japan, Australia and New Zealand (each an “Eligible Territory”) who:
1. have purchased an Nexus 6P or Nexus 5X in a Eligible Territory (“Phone”) between September 29, 2015 and midnight Pacific Standard Time on April 18, 2017; and
2. at the time the Offer is redeemed: (i) are not current Google Play Music subscribers; (ii) have not been Google Play Music subscribers in the past 12 months; and/or (iii) have not participated in a Google Play Music trial in the past 12 months.”
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In past cases, even as recently as the Nexus 6, current subscribers would get a credit towards their bill. I personally have a credit until December due to buying a Nexus 6 and I’ve been a subscriber since the service begun a few years ago.
Definitely disappointing but probably not something that will keep many people from purchasing the phone. If you’ve only used the free version of the service it appears that you’ll still be able to redeem the offer and get three free months.
http://www.androidguys.com/2015/10/03/current-subscribers-wont-receive-a-google-play-music-credit-with-a-new-nexus-purchase
Ugh
Makes absolutely no sense!
Existing customers get nothing.
And because I'm in the UK, I don't even get the $50 Google Play credit that everyone gets in the states either.
It's bad enough we pay soooo much more for the device aswell!
.... Thanks for nothing Google! (Literally)
I'm not even planning on taking advantage of it. 90% of my music listening is on the subway, streaming doesn't work for me.
Thats disappointing for sure..
Just create a new gmail. Should work and since you can have multiple accounts on a device it won't impact you. I did this with Nexus 6 promotion last year
[hfm] said:
I'm not even planning on taking advantage of it. 90% of my music listening is on the subway, streaming doesn't work for me.
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You can create playlists and then select to download them to your device for offline use. Any future songs added to that list will auto-download on your device when you have data (you can select it to only happen on Wi-Fi).
I was planning on doing something similar with my car. There is an after market android head unit (not android auto) that I was looking at and I would put Play Music on it and make a playlist for the car and have it auto-download there. When the car is in my driveway it gets Wi-Fi and would download the music before I left
[hfm said:
;1975325]I'm not even planning on taking advantage of it. 90% of my music listening is on the subway, streaming doesn't work for me.
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You can download it for offline playback
i don't know what's so outrageous about this. i know you mention something about being able to take advantage of such offers before, but that's never been the case for me. Previous offers bundled with other nexus devices and chromebooks have been off limits to me as an existing subscriber. the only thing they've consistently allowed was google drive storage bonuses. ymmv but it's hardly shocking
WoodroweBones said:
You can create playlists and then select to download them to your device for offline use. Any future songs added to that list will auto-download on your device when you have data (you can select it to only happen on Wi-Fi).
I was planning on doing something similar with my car. There is an after market android head unit (not android auto) that I was looking at and I would put Play Music on it and make a playlist for the car and have it auto-download there. When the car is in my driveway it gets Wi-Fi and would download the music before I left
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Pilz said:
You can download it for offline playback
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I'm just extremely anal about my music collection. I like organizing it on my NAS so I can put it on any device I feel like with a simple copy on my local WiFi. I also have Amazon prime (where I buy all my mp3s anyway for a large number of years) so I'm already paying for being able to stream a decent chunk of my purchases and whatever Amazon throws in for free in Prime from time to time if I want to stream something on my laptop that I don't actually "own" in a rare case. I don't need yet another music service I will rarely want to use. I like having full control over my mp3s. I definitely see the draw for people that like to use it or if you don't have a music collection at all. But I've got like hundreds of gigabytes of music that ripped from my CD's (which I rarely buy anymore, but I've still got a ton of them) and purchased from Amazon MP3. I've still got all my CD's going back to like the late 80s (I'm old..relatively..)
bummer. i like free credits.
but this phone is so awesome, i'd buy it again. credits be damned.
AS someone said, its pretty trivial to create a new google account and use it for music for the 3 months.
indianajonze said:
i don't know what's so outrageous about this. i know you mention something about being able to take advantage of such offers before, but that's never been the case for me. Previous offers bundled with other nexus devices and chromebooks have been off limits to me as an existing subscriber. the only thing they've consistently allowed was google drive storage bonuses. ymmv but it's hardly shocking
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Then credit me the 3 months of service in my google account.
Pisses me off. We should get something.
EVOme said:
Pisses me off. We should get something.
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Why do you feel entitled to this?
The world is full of "for new subscribers only" type offers. The concept is well understood. The terms were posted when you purchased the device. What ever Google did previously with other releases is not relevant.
I ask because I don't understand the sense of entitlement and anger people expresses in this thread over what amounts to less than $30.
Elnrik said:
Why do you feel entitled to this?
The world is full of "for new subscribers only" type offers. The concept is well understood. The terms were posted when you purchased the device. What ever Google did previously with other releases is not relevant.
I ask because I don't understand the sense of entitlement and anger people expresses in this thread over what amounts to less than $30.
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Well, it sucks when companies screw current customers in order to gain new customers. We've contributed to the success of the service and when there's incentives to be had, you'd think current loyal customers saw something from it. One month free would be fine with me....something to say thanks for being a customer as well as thanks for spending $590 on our new phone. I don't feel i'm owed anything, btw....just think there should be something for us all.
Elnrik said:
Why do you feel entitled to this?
The world is full of "for new subscribers only" type offers. The concept is well understood.
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How about the $50 Google Play Credit & the fact it's only U.S only.
You don't think this is unfair?
Especially when everyone outside of the states pay a much higher price for the devices already.
Would have been nice to have credit towards my current service - but doesn't surprise me they aren't doing this. Also, would be nice to buy a case with the $50 - Is what it is, not why I bought the phone anyways.
EVOme said:
Well, it sucks when companies screw current customers in order to gain new customers.
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Well, that's what I don't understand though. From my perspective, I'm not being screwed. You're not being screwed. Google hasn't increased the price of the service, or deleted our music libraries, or whatever just to be spiteful or to screw you. Nothing is changing for us. Google is just offering new customers a little incentive to use their product.
chrisjcks said:
How about the $50 Google Play Credit & the fact it's only U.S only.
You don't think this is unfair?
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I don't understand the decision, but I wouldn't call it unfair.
chrisjcks said:
Especially when everyone outside of the states pay a much higher price for the devices already.
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Let's examine that.
In the States the 32GB black Nexus 6P costs $499. According to Google, the current conversion rates makes that 324.89 British Pounds.
In the UK, the same phone costs what? 449 pounds?
449 pounds converts to $689.62 usd.
$689.62
-499.00
=You're getting screwed.
BUT - considering I have no idea what other costs go into selling the thing in the UK (tariffs, taxes, etc), I couldn't say for sure that this is completely unfair. Easy to look at it and say it is though.