Android Market allows 24 hour trial period

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In an interesting twist that could possibly change how other app store touting companies run their policies, Google's Android Market has been updated to allows apps to be returned after 24 hours, after news that the Market will take paid applications.

Androinica reports that the moment you purchase the app, not install it, you are given 24 hours to decide if you like it, and also that if after that you wish to obtain a refund, you have to settle that with the developer and not with Google themselves. Otherwise, you can take the matter to your credit card company directly.

Having to go to the developer directly to obtain a refund could possibly be more time consuming than Google themselves, but with the 24 hour trial time frame there's really no excuse. One of the biggest gripes customers have had with Apple's App Store is that they don't allow any trial versions of applications, and the only way for people to test items is for the developer to create a 'lite' version of an app.

Google's other policies state a few interesting things, including that (as previously known) application reinstalls are free, and that the Android Market has no application upgrade functionality. Androinica states, "The use of the word ‘upgrade' should mean that Google is not referring to version updates that address bugs, complaints, and new features."

If you wish to read all about Google's policies, please visit their website.

(4 replies) #1 mclaren05 on 17 Feb 2009 - 20:07

Dumb.

Someone buys the application, cracks it, returns it, and releases it to the scene cracked.
Worthless, IMO.

#1.1 Ambroos on 17 Feb 2009 - 20:27

And that currently happens with every single software that has a trial available. And still people release trials. Why would anyone do that?

#1.2 Jonathan Amend on 17 Feb 2009 - 20:52

A lot of people copy software on the iPhone because the App Store has no trials so it's easy to waste money on junk. Of course that probably makes it a lot more interesting for developers, so maybe Google is making a mistake here...

Also don't be ridiculous; trial or not, the scene will have no trouble copying software if there's interest in it.

#1.3 cybertimber2008 on 17 Feb 2009 - 21:30

They make it sound like you have to PAY, and if you don't like it return it for a refund. I don't see a lot of crackers putting their money on the line for a free app in the end.

#1.4 sharp65 on 17 Feb 2009 - 22:55

How is that anything different from what takes place in the iphone camp? One person takes the plunge and buys it for the "good" of everyone else. This way at least lets other people get a chance to try it out legally before putting down the money to buy it.

(1 reply) #2 MiG- on 17 Feb 2009 - 21:00

this will kill the amount of developers publishing apps imo. The only reason so many developers write for the iPhone is because people will spend 99p easily, realise its crap and not think anything of it. This, allows people to essentialy make it look like the sale never took place.

It has its good and bad points, theoretically the quality of apps should be better, but there probably won't be as many of them.

I wouldn't like to gamble on it.

#2.1 Sam Symons Live on 18 Feb 2009 - 08:36

MiG- said,

Hopefully it'll persuade developers to up the quality to not require a refund

(3 replies) #3 WolfDV on 17 Feb 2009 - 22:54

whats stopping me from buying the apps; using it for the day; returning it for refund.

and repeating as many times as I want whenever I need that apps functionality for a bit.

#3.1 jmc777 on 17 Feb 2009 - 23:08

Honesty?

#3.2 Shiranui on 18 Feb 2009 - 01:19

jmc777 said,

Or inconvenience.

#3.3 Quick Reply on 18 Feb 2009 - 07:15

Shiranui said,

Or the Android Store won't let you trial it again?

#4 +Smigit on 18 Feb 2009 - 10:27

Do developers have to offer refunds or is it optional on their part? I can just see so many issues if one was devloping some form of application which was a "run once" sort of affair that is designed to perform a task and not really need to be used again there after.

Also if the refunds are handled by the developer does that mean Google isn't taking a cut of the sale? If not who makes up the difference...

I duno, seems like it could be an issue for developers if they have no option but to opt in. They may be better selling the applications via their own stores.

#5 zer0day on 18 Feb 2009 - 14:35

This sounds a bit stupid since you can download the installer file off the phone without much hassle, although, there seems to be some copy protection system in the works for paid apps.

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