GOOGLE PLAY STORE gets new rules

Google Play Store gets new rules

 Google  is changing its rule for Play  Store, they are  forming  a  special  team  to  screen  new apps  for malwares  and  sexually  explicit material,  and strengthening  its  age­ based  rating  system.  

The  change  brings Google  Play,  a  bazaar  for  digital  games,  social media  apps  and  entertainment  software,  closer  to Apple's  tightly controlled App  Store. But Google  is  not  adopting Apple's  practice of  only  approving  apps  that meet  i ts  stringent  quality  standards.

The  change  underscores  the  growing  importance  of  apps  in  the success  of  the  companies'  rival mobile  gadgets. Google, whose Android  software  runs most  of  the world's  smartphones,  and  the  iPhone  and  iPad maker  each manage  online  hubs with more  than one m llion  apps  ranging  from  calendars  to  video  games.

Google  said  in  i ts  official  blog  on  Tuesday  that  i ts  expert  team will  screen  each  app  submitted  by developers  to  spot  earlier  anything  that  runs  afoul  of  i ts  rules. Google  had  only  used  automated technology  for  screening  at  the  time  of  submission.

The  new  process will  not  create  bottlenecks, Google  said  in  a  post,  promising  that  approved  apps will  become  available  on Google  Play within  'a matter  of  hours'  after  submission. Apple  does  not  disclose  its  app  review  period,  but  the website  appreviewtimes.com  puts  the average wait  time  at  seven  days  for Apple's App  Store.

Developers must  answer  special  questionnaires  about  their  apps  to  help  independent  ratings organizations  assign  age­ based  ratings, Google  said.

"We  know  that  people  in  different  countries  have  different  ideas  about what  content  is

appropriate  for  kids,  teens  and  adults,  so  today's  announcement will  help  developers  better  label their  apps  for  the  right  audience," Google  said  in  the  blog  post.

As  of May,  apps  submitted without  the  questionnaire will  not  be  published  in Google  Play,  and existing  apps  that  do  not  seek  a  rating  could  be  blocked  in  certain markets  or  for  certain  users,Google  said. Until  now, Google  has  let  developers  rate  their  own  apps  using  a  system  created  by Google.

Google, whose Android  software  runs most  of  the world's  smartphones,  and Apple  each manage online  hubs with more  than  one million  apps  ranging  from  calendars  to  video  games.