Earlier this year Amazon managed sneaked its app store into the Google Play store via the Amazon App. Google has finally responded by removing that version of the app from the Google Play and updated its developer agreement. Amazon released a new Amazon shopping app, that is the same thing but without the app store.
”You may not use the Store to distribute or make available any Product which has a purpose that facilitates the distribution of software applications and games for use on Android devices outside of the Store,” reads the developer terms.
Amazon also offered an official statement, which seems to confirm why Google booted its app:
We launched a new Amazon App for Android Phones on September 9 that provides an award-winning mobile shopping experience, enables customers to discover and purchase all of Amazon’s digital catalog, and provides customers access to the Prime Instant Video player and unlimited streaming of over 40,000 movies and TV episodes. Google subsequently changed their Developer Distribution Agreement on September 25. As a result, we removed the app from Google Play and published the Amazon Shopping app. Customers who want the best Amazon experience on their Android phone, including access to Prime Instant Video and Amazon’s entire digital catalog, can still get the Amazon App for Android Phones atamazon.com/androidapp.
Google has made this stance, one similar Apple has made in the past. These new terms will prevent companies like Amazon from competing with the Google Play store within the store. Tell us in the comments below what you think about Google’s decision.