Google starts certifying third-party Android app stores, but not in the US
Translated by a model; the original is in Russian.
Google is launching a program called Registered App Stores for third-party Android app stores. The idea comes down to a simple trade: a store earns Google's approval, and its users get an easier way to install apps.
According to the published details, stores can already apply, and the program itself goes live on December 1.
Easier, with strings attached
Installing software from alternative sources on Android is already possible, but it usually asks the user to jump through extra hoops. The new program is meant to smooth that path, though only for stores that pass Google's certification. The platform owner keeps the final say: before it can offer users convenient installs, a third-party store first needs a seal of approval from the company.
No American users
The most notable feature of the launch is geography. The program will not operate in the US, even though Google is headquartered there and a large share of Android users live there. The available information does not make clear which countries the program will cover.
The detailed certification requirements are also unknown for now, as is exactly how the installation process will change for users. Those details will likely become clearer closer to the December launch.
Source: Ars Technica
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