Google Play Opens the Door to Third-Party App Stores, Starting Next Week
Google says it will begin carrying rival Android app stores next week as Epic drops a bid to change the court order.
- Google and Epic Games have officially withdrawn their joint effort to modify the US court's injunction, choosing instead to comply with District Judge James Donato's original permanent order requiring Google to carry rival Android app stores inside its Play Store.
- Following the withdrawal, the Play Catalog Access Program will allow third-party app stores to access the Google Play catalog starting July 22. This program enables users to download alternative stores directly through Google Play without sideloading.
- To participate, third-party operators must pay an annual $5,000 fee for "security and policy reviews" and maintain malware below 1 percent of "install attempts." Stores must also operate solely within the United States and enforce clear, non-discriminatory safety policies.
- When users choose an app through alternative storefronts, the download will still process through Google under existing terms. Google will continue collecting its service fee on these downloads, maintaining substantial control over the distribution ecosystem.
- Google previously announced it will launch its sideloaded Registered App Store program globally later this year, creating two distinct Android tracks. The United States will feature stores-within-a-store inside Google Play, while other regions will use the separate Registered App Store model.
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39 Articles
Google Play opens to third-party app stores on 22 July
Android has always let people install apps from outside Google’s store. Next week it goes much further. Google will start carrying rival app stores from inside Google Play itself. Google told a California court it is ready to begin on Wednesday 22 July, The Verge reported. The move came after Google and Epic Games jointly […] This story continues at The Next Web
Google Opens the Play Store to Its Rivals
If you’re tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. For years, getting a rival app store onto an Android phone meant wrestling with sideloading, a process Google wrapped in warnings and friction. That barrier falls on July 22, when Google Play begins hosting competing app stores directly, letting...
Google will allow users to directly download third-party app stores from the U.S. Play Store starting on the 22nd. According to Reuters and other sources on the 16th, Google withdrew its application to overturn the final ruling in the antitrust lawsuit with Epic Games in documents filed with the U.S. federal court in California on the 14th (local time) and stated that it would allow U.S. users to download third-party app stores within the Play S…
Google Opens Android To Third-Party App Stores In Major Play Store Shake
Google is set to make one of the biggest changes to the Android app ecosystem as it prepares to allow third-party app stores to access Google Play’s app catalogue. The change will happen from 22 July and will allow eligible third-party Android app stores in the US to access Google Play app listings, including app names, descriptions, screenshots and other catalogue information. Downloads will continue to be processed through Google Play under the new system. The move follows Google’s legal battle with Epic Games over Android app distribution and competition. The companies have withdrawn attempts to modify the court order, clearing the way for rival app marketplaces to gain greater access to the Android ecosystem. Under Google’s new Play Catalog Access Program, third-party app stores will be able to display Google Play apps to Android users. Google will continue to manage app downloads through Google Play and maintain its existing fee structures for apps distributed. Participating app stores will need to meet Google’s requirements, including operating as legitimate marketplaces, being registered organisations and targeting users in supported regions. The move could create new opportunities for companies developing alternative app marketplaces, particularly in areas such as gaming, where businesses have been seeking more control over software distribution. Microsoft and other major technology companies could potentially benefit from a more open Android ecosystem, particularly as the industry looks for new ways to deliver games and services beyond traditional platforms. Google has confirmed developers will have settings within Play Console to manage whether their apps are included in third-party stores. While Android has supported alternative app stores and sideloading for years, Google Play has remained the dominant destination for most consumers. The new approach gives rival marketplaces access to Google’s extensive app catalogue, potentially encouraging greater competition. Although the initial rollout is focused on the US, the move is likely to be closely watched in other markets, like Australia where Android users make up a significant share of the smartphone market.
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