For one thing, there aren’t very many affected apps, and they’re only imitating brands from the United States and United Kingdom, Shilko said.
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For now, Google has launched the new feature for Android only.
In the wake of new antitrust objections to Google’s Android operating system announced by the European Commission (EC) last week, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly widening its own probe into the tech giant. Both Google Play and Apple’s iTunes App Store already disclose when apps that are free to download contain opportunities for in-app purchases-those extra subscriptions or content that can be bought in apps on computers or devices.
The feature is only now available for Android users. iOS and desktop browser versions will be coming soon. The regulators allege that Google has illegally tried to exploit that leverage.
Considering the market dominance of Android phones, Google apps are considered the key target for the revision. The feature, according to Google, “only makes suggestions, and will not override your previous meeting plans if you don’t approve the changes”. They have to install everything – or they get nothing. The TC report adds that later in the year, it asked all Android developers to respond to whether their apps had ads or not in order to be more transparent and “help consumers make more informed decisions”. Meanwhile, developers have access to the new features that will make it into the final version of Android N OS and only a few Nexus devices have enrolled in the Android Beta Program.
A Reddit user identified only as “cgutman” notes how the functionality “seems to be a server-side rollout since my GS7 shows it, but my Nexus 9 does not”. Why else would the company insist on having its apps installed and highlighted if it didn’t think such moves would give its services a boost over rivals?
The designation can apply to any app that contains ads, including banners, interstitials, sponsored articles and in-feed native ads (think Facebook and Twitter, for example) and even house ads (though that doesn’t include “More Apps” sections).
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Softpedia has reached out to PhishLabs to inquire if Google removed the apps from the Play Store.
