Be it health and fitness apps, games or building a new reality app, Google Play provides developers a platform to create user-centric apps and games to build successful businesses. And, the key to offer users a positive and engaging experience while snooping for apps and games on Google Play is to create a mobile solution for right audience. With the two updates announced on March 2015, Google has taken a crucial step to improve the experience for both developers and users.
A global content rating system based on industry standards
Google announced that – it is introducing a new age-based rating system for apps and games on Google Play. The content rating system is announced by considering people of different countries that have different opinions on what content is suitable for kids, teens and adults. And, this announcement will help developers better label their apps according to the target audience. The announcement is made to maintain consistency with industry best practices. And, this little but important change will give developers an easy way to communicate well-known and appropriate content ratings to their target audiences and will help enhance app discovery and engagement by allowing people choose right and tailored content for them. It gives an opportunity to developers to receive objective content ratings by completing a content rating feedback form for each of their apps and games. Google announced that –its new content rating system includes official ratings from the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and its participating bodies, including the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), Pan-European Game Information (PEGI), Australian Classification Board, Unterhaltungs software Selbstkontrolle (USK) and Classificação Indicativa (ClassInd). However, Territories are not covered by any specific ratings authority; it will display an age-based, generic rating system. Google has made this process quick, automated and free to developers. And, in the upcoming weeks, consumers all across the world will soon see these new ratings in their local markets. Developers can sign in to the Developer Console and complete the new rating questionnaire for each of their apps to maintain their apps’ availability on Google Play. Google also added that the apps that are without a complete rating questionnaire will be marked as “Unrated” and may be blocked in certain territories or for some specific users. And, this announcement will be applicable from this May onwards. From then, every new apps and updates to existing apps will need a complete questionnaire before they will be published on Google Play.
Introduction of new app review process to increase competence
Several months ago, Google began reviewing apps before they are published on Google Play to increase efficiency and better protect the play store and improve the app catalog. This new review process involves a team of experts who are solely responsible for identifying violations of Google’s developer policies earlier in the app lifecycle. To value the rapid innovation and iteration, Google has given this announcement so that developers can get their products to market within a matter of hours after submission, rather than days or weeks. However, there has been no noticeable change for developers during the rollout. To assist this effective effort and provide more transparency to developers, Google also rolled out improvements to the way it use to handle publishing status. This announcement will allow developers to have more insight into the exact reasons of app rejection or suspension, and they can easily fix and resubmit their apps for minor policy violations. According to Google – over the past years, it have paid more than $7 billion to developers and is excited to see the ecosystem growing and innovating quickly. Let’s hope that Google’s these announcements will help foster its growth and help the developer community build thriving businesses.
Sahil Gupta
With roll up the sleeves, dive in and get the job done approach, it was year in the year 2010 when Sahil started Parangat Technologies. Emphasizing on a healthy work culture and technology driven company, he has successfully created a workplace where people love to work and live. He is a software engineer and a passionate blockchain enthusiast.