Google Play is currently practically the largest and most widespread platform for Android apps. Although the system also allows installation from third-party sources, and we also know other secondary stores from some of the bigger manufacturers, Chinese giants like Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo want to change that.
They are creating an alliance aimed at uploading apps from developers to their own individual app stores.
This is a big step
It’s a major step especially focused on removing Google’s dominant position in the Android app store market. OPPO, Vivo, Xiaomi and Huawei accounted for in the last quarter of 2019 overall up to 40% of smartphone shipments.
So if they manage to come up with a unified platform that enables access to all their separate app stores, they could attract a lot of new developers.
According to data from Statista, Google Play contained almost 2019 million apps at the end of the year 3. So this app store is already pretty overcrowded, which means it’s extremely hard to stand out with new apps or catch users’ attention with them.
The new alliance is called GDSA (Global Developer Service Alliance). It commits to providing global developer services in one place, including content distribution, development support, marketing activities, and brand promotion.
The alliance will act as a support system for global app developers and also for app monetization.
Will it include Huawei, too?
Currently, the alliance covers nine regions, including countries such as India, Indonesia, Russia, and Malaysia. What’s interesting is that on the official websites, only manufacturers Xiaomi, OPPO and Vivo are listed as members of the alliance. However, a report from Reuters also mentioned the Chinese Huawei as a member of the alliance. All four companies still need to confirm their membership.
Google’s dominance in this market allows it to earn up to a 30% commission from sales made on Google Play. A new alliance could therefore attract developers by offering better incentives and by charging lower commissions.
The apps will be available mainly in the aforementioned nine regions, so it’s also possible to improve targeting of services.
Also well known is Huawei’s strong effort to break free from Google Play. Largely, it’s a result of business disagreements between the US and China. Joining this alliance could therefore be the fastest way to create an alternative to the popular Google Play Store for its international users.
Huawei invests a considerable amount, more than one billion dollars, into developing and publishing apps in its alternative store, Huawei AppGallery.
We’re curious how the whole situation regarding the GDSA alliance and the alternative to Google Play will turn out. Would you like an alternative app store too? Or do you prefer Google’s strict positioning of the Google Play Store? Tell us your thoughts in the discussion below the article.
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