Building Successful Global Apps
Article Summary
Purnima Kochikar from Google Play reveals how Android developers earned over $5 billion in payouts. With 1 billion active Android users, the platform just rolled out a suite of tools to help developers scale globally.
This 2014 Google I/O announcement introduced major updates to Google Play's developer ecosystem. The focus: helping mobile developers find users, boost engagement, and convert active users into paying customers through new APIs, analytics, and monetization features.
Key Takeaways
- Over 80,000 apps actively use Alpha and Beta Testing for private feedback
- New Publishing API automates APK uploads and in-app product management
- Enhanced revenue metrics track buyers and average revenue per paying user
- Deep linking in search ads re-engages users by opening specific app pages
- Direct Carrier Billing expands to tablets for easier cross-device purchases
Google Play launched a comprehensive developer toolkit spanning testing, publishing automation, analytics, and monetization to help apps scale from launch to global business.
About This Article
Game developers couldn't easily see how players were engaging with their games or track progress. They had no single place to check daily active users, retention rates, or how players were doing with achievements across their whole player base.
Google Play added better statistics tools to the Developer Console. Developers can now see daily dashboards with player data, engagement metrics, retention analysis, and leaderboard performance for signed-in users all in one place.
Developers can now make smarter decisions about keeping players around and making money. They have real-time access to engagement metrics and achievement data without having to manually pull numbers from different sources or use separate analytics tools.