Google needs to expand payment options to enable more users to pay for apps on Google Play Store


Google needs to expand payment options to enable more users to pay for apps on Google Play Store

MADFINGER Games has revealed why they were forced to make DEAD TRIGGER free on the Google Play Store.

The company said:

Regarding price drop. HERE is our statement. The main reason: piracy rate on Android devices, that was unbelievably high. At first we intend to make this game available for as many people as possible - that’s why it was for as little as buck. - It was much less than 8$ for SHADOWGUN but on the other hand we didn’t dare to provide it for free, since we hadn’t got XP with free-to-play format so far. - However, even for one buck, the piracy rate is soooo giant, that we finally decided to provide DEAD TRIGGER for free. Anyway - DEAD TRIGGER is not FREEMIUM, it always was and still remains FREE-TO-PLAY, that means, all players are able to play it without IAP! We stand up for this statement, because all members of our team are playing (and enjoying) DEAD TRIGGER without IAP.

They have a valid point. But here is what I would like to add. My opinion is largely restricted to Indian market.

Google Play Store has only one payment option for Indian consumers… A credit card.

And a credit card is something that is very hard to get for folks under the age of 25 years especially if they are not doing a job.

And without a credit card, they really have no way to buy apps from the Google Play Store even if they want to.

Google Play Store does not even have a gifting mechanism which would enable some of these users to pay for apps they are willing to buy.

In fact, I know people who have never paid for software for their computers (apart from the ones that were shipped with their laptops) but they have paid for apps on their Android smartphones.

What Google needs is carrier billing option in India. At least on the major operators like Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance and the likes.

I can safely say that it would entice more and more people to pay for apps that are definitely worth the cost.