14 DAY TRIAL // Mountain View-based Internet giant Google has made yet another change to its Google Play Developer Program Policies, banning some more applications from the official software portal for Android.
The new rules state it clear that applications that feature explicit content, including icons, titles, or descriptions, are prohibited from the storefront.
Moreover, the company notes that even software that alludes to such content will be removed from the Google Play Store, the same as will happen with those which include child abuse content.
Google did not allow raunchy apps in the portal before either, but the new policy applies to more software, including a series of wallpapers, and the like, as Phandroid notes.
What’s more, the company has decided to enforce a new rule on application promotions as well, so as to ensure that developers do not mislead users through them.
According to the updated Google Play Developer Program Policies, apps in the store cannot engage or benefit from:
-Promotion via deceptive ads on websites, apps or other properties, including simulated system, service, or app notifications or alerts.
- Promotion or install tactics which cause redirection to Google Play or the download of the app without informed user action.
- Unsolicited promotion via SMS services.
Google also notes that it will try to make sure that no ad network or affiliate takes advantage of methods as those described above in order to direct users to pages when developer’s app is available for download.
The new rule is expected to clean up the portal a bit more, as apps that do not comply will end up being removed from it. This should also ensure that there will be less spam in Google Play.
In addition to these new policies, Google also decided to make a few changes to the rules related to in-app purchases, now forcing developers to clearly explain when a specific feature in the app requires such feature.
“If your product description on Google Play refers to in-app features to which a specific or additional charge applies, your description must clearly notify users that payment is required to access those features,” the company explains.
Developers who already have apps in the Google Play store will have 15 days at their disposal to ensure that their software complies with the new policies. New apps are immediately subject to these changes, it seems.
Those of you who would like to have a closer look at the developer program policies should head over to the Google Play portal for that.