Apps with internal purchases will no longer be called free on Google Play
The pressure from consumers has paid off. And it is that, after the protests and complaints of many users about the danger of purchases within applications that are offered as free , the European Commission has been able to agree with Google some basic rules to avoid confusion and involuntary charges through these tools.Agreements that mean that applications with integrated purchases will no longer be called free even if they don't cost money to download.
This has been confirmed by the European Commission in a letter, and by Google in the media Android Police, confirming that they have been working closely with both the European Commission and consumer associations to defend users and, above all, everything, to children on the Google Play platform That is why recent changes have been made to the app store Google to match the demands raised by this community body:
First, applications called free cannot mislead consumers about their actual cost.
Games should not encourage children to purchase content or persuade adults to purchase content for them.
Users and consumers should know the methods of payment of these in-app purchases, and these cannot be loaded by default without their explicit consent.
Developers or merchants must provide a email address for consumers to establish direct contactin case of complaints or any problem.
That is why, in recent months, users of the platform Android have been able to notice changes such as the label that appears next to to the name of the game or app in Google Play which reads: Offers in-app purchasesIn addition, Google has also modified the checkout process to enter a strong password before making each payment, thus avoiding the 30 minute time previously allowed to purchase new items without having to overcome a barrier.Something that has given more than one headache to many parents. Finally, to satisfy the demands of the European Commission, Google should stop referring to the games and apps with in-app purchases as free content Something to expect to see in the coming weeks.
That is why users will witness a notable change in terms of the contents of Google Play Thus, the lists of games and Most prominent free apps such as Top Gratis will see a substantial change, currently having a percentage of 80 percent of this type of Freemium tools (free with in-app purchases). Something that, in turn, can affect downloads of well-known titles such as Clash or Clans or the very famous Candy Crush Saga We will have to wait to see the reactions of its developers or if Google decides to create a new section to list the best or most popular content with in-app purchases.
These measures proposed by the European Commission do not only have to do with the company Google And it is that the problems associated with the system Freemium or free apps with integrated purchases are also typical of Apple, so reactions on this are expected.
