Technoglitch
Core Member
Pricetree’s app has been reinstated, according to the company. We have contacted Google for comments, and will update in case they respond, but it still does highlight a few important things, which MediaNama readers should bear in mind:
1. The apps ecosystem is less open than the web: the two primary app stores, of Apple and Google are likely to be the source of a majority of your installs, with Google dominating the Android store install base (dare we say, “monopoly”, given the CCI investigation into Google?), and Apple for iOS. Despite the presence of other app stores, a majority of your eggs are in these baskets.
2. Google is run by bots, even if they’re humans: PriceTree looks like it got lucky with its app, but they could well have been banned forever, without knowing why or more importantly, how they can get the block removed. Google lacks transparency: users have often complained about their Gmail accounts being blocked. We’ve had instances where our site was marked as being hacked by Google search, or our AdSense account was blocked.
Another reason why you shouldn’t go app only - MediaNama
1. The apps ecosystem is less open than the web: the two primary app stores, of Apple and Google are likely to be the source of a majority of your installs, with Google dominating the Android store install base (dare we say, “monopoly”, given the CCI investigation into Google?), and Apple for iOS. Despite the presence of other app stores, a majority of your eggs are in these baskets.
2. Google is run by bots, even if they’re humans: PriceTree looks like it got lucky with its app, but they could well have been banned forever, without knowing why or more importantly, how they can get the block removed. Google lacks transparency: users have often complained about their Gmail accounts being blocked. We’ve had instances where our site was marked as being hacked by Google search, or our AdSense account was blocked.
Another reason why you shouldn’t go app only - MediaNama
