Third-Party App Stores Are Coming to Google Play in the United States

Google Corporation has agreed to allow third-party app stores on Google Play. While a court previously attempted to force the change and Google actively resisted, the corporation decided to make concessions following negotiations with Epic Games. Google Play will open up to external stores in the United States on July 22. For the rest of the world, the previously introduced Registered App Stores system will remain in place to allow stores to distribute on Android in general rather than directly within Google Play.

Stores wishing to enter Google Play must comply with several explicit conditions. They must pay Google an annual fee of 5,000 dollars, maintain a clear and non-discriminatory security policy, host apps from all developers who meet the requirements, and ensure that the percentage of malicious apps does not exceed one percent. Google has already begun notifying American developers that third-party app stores will soon automatically receive information about their projects. Development teams can opt out of this data sharing, but they must access their Google Play Console settings to set a restriction.

In a related development regarding its store policies, Google Corporation confirmed plans to reduce commission rates in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Vice President of Engineering for Google Play, Paul Feng, announced that the store commission in those first three regions would be reduced starting June 30, while the rest of the world must wait longer for the changes. The upcoming commission rate is determined by several factors, including the date a user downloads an app. Products downloaded before the changes implementation carry a 25 percent commission, whereas downloads occurring afterward carry a 20 percent commission. The rate can decrease further depending on app revenue, payment system choices, and participation in special programs, down from the standard 30 percent rate.