A lawsuit between Google and more than 30 US states reached settlement back in September over the search giant’s Play Store and sideloading practices and today the terms of the agreement have been unveiled. Much of the lawsuit pertained to the flexibility of Android to allow third-party app stores to be pre-installed and also the app sideloading process, with Google’s blog post detailing how it intends to address the issues. The settlement had been rumbling on since Epic Games requested an exception to the commission charged by Google for In-App-Purchases for those who installed Fortnite from the Play Store.
A Choice Of Pre-installed App Store
Part of the reason for the lawsuit came about from the recent spat between Google and Epic Games which wanted to either not pay as much commission (30 percent) or entirely bypass Play Store billing.
Thanks to the settlement, Google will now let users pay for apps or In-App-Purchases using alternative billing options in the Play Store. Developers will also be able to show different pricing options within the app leading the buyer to their website or even to a third-party store. According to the agreement, OEMs can continue to ship handsets with the Play Store and whichever app stores they deem necessary to offer more choice to the consumer. Third-party app stores will also update apps more easily, and work better when used on devices running Android 14.
Easier Sideloading Of Apps
While sideloading isn’t as popular as it was when rooting and flashing custom ROMs were more common (and necessary), it’s still something that pops up now and again. Android users have always had an easier task of sideloading apps than iOS users, but thanks to the lawsuit settlement it’s about to get even more streamlined.
Instead of being shown a pop-up menu when you attempt to sideload an app which then takes you to another screen with a toggle and another pop-up once its been enabled, the processes may be merged into a single pop-up option. Google says it will also update the language used to warn people of the risks taken when sideloading an app on to your handset.
Settlement Fund
As part of the agreement, Google has committed to contributing $630 million into a fund which will be paid to consumers according to a court-approved plan. $70 million of the fund will be used by the more than 30 states involved in the lawsuit. It’s unlikely that the settlement fund will result in any sort of meaningful recompense to consumers but it’s something along the lines of the saying that “It’s the thought that counts.” In real terms, most Android users won’t notice much difference in how they use their phones for daily tasks.
All-in-all, the settlement of the lawsuit means that Android users will see some changes in the way they sideload apps and their choice of billing and app stores. As for iOS users? Well that’s something that apparently isn’t an issue, despite the OS being locked down.
