Google Play Developer Program Policy (“Content Policy”) Update Oct 31, 2013

MobileApps

What does that mean? Will we need to do something?

https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/3526015

We would like to notify you that we have updated the Google Play Developer Program Policy (“Content Policy”). This update contains the usage policies for the newly introduced advertising ID for apps on Play, which gives users better controls and provides developers with a simple, standard system to continue to monetize their apps. Beginning Aug 1, 2014, all updates and new apps uploaded to Play must use the advertising ID in place of any other device identifiers for any advertising purposes.

Insplisity

Thanks for sharing this. Here is a bit more info:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/11/01/google-play-services-4-0-requires-developers-to-use-the-new-advertising-id-to-identify-your-device-enforcement-starts-aug-2014/

and

http://marketingland.com/google-replacing-android-id-with-advertising-id-similar-to-apples-idfa-63636

licemeat

I take it Andromo is on top of this, if this even applies at all to the ad networks ie Tapgage. We need to not have a repeat of Ping Jam.

lorne

It will apply to all ad networks eventually for apps that want to be in Google Play, but it won't begin to be enforced for another 9 months (August 2014).

Overall this seems to be a good change for users, and could mean reducing or eliminating the permissions so many ad networks ask for. With any luck we might actually see more ad networks become viable as a result.

Insplisity

@lorne: So you will have to update Andromo in near future, I suppose. I'm putting my apps on a lot of Android Stores and it is taking me days. Can't wait to start updating them once again.

Insplisity

Does this mean we will also need to update all our apps on other app markets as well? Or just the ones on GP?

Thanks.

lorne

The new content policy states:

Beginning August 1st 2014, all updates and new
apps uploaded to the Play Store must use the advertising ID (when available on a
device) in lieu of any other device identifiers for any advertising purposes.

...which means that it will apply to any app that is made available from Google Play.

I don't know whether the new Advertising ID will affect apps in any other marketplaces. It's quite possible it will apply to any apps that want to use the Android Mobile Ads SDK (which is now part of Google Play Services), but I haven't seen any official indication of that yet.

f1_fan

In which way this will effect us? Do we need to do anything or you guys are prepared to make changes?
I am using only AdMob and Amazon

Insplisity

Thanks, @lorne.

lorne

@f1_fan you probably won't need to do anything other than rebuild your app and reupload it, but we'll let you know if there's anything else that will be necessary as the new advertising id gets adopted by the various ad platforms.

@hendrixs you're welcome