Google will no longer call apps with in-app purchases ‘free’

Apps that are free will generally generate more downloads that costly apps. And then, once you’ve already downloaded the application, you’re more likely to buy things inside the app, something that generates the app-maker more money in the long-term.

Many developers have realized that, and not only do they make free apps with many in-app purchases required for further-enjoying the game, they also make it children-friendly, often causing kids to spend money without parents’ permission.

Both the above reason and the fact that when you download a free app you expect to get a free app, and not an app that’s free to download but costs to play, Google has taken measures to stop the delusion.

Google will now start marking apps that contain in-app purchases (perhaps instead of free it’ll be called IAP), and as to the first problem, Google will make sure developers don’t encourage children to make purchases on their apps.

All the above isn’t exactly coming from Google’s big heart, but rather by the EU’s pressure to implement this measures. Google will monitor apps to make sure they follow the European Commission’s guidelines.

Regarding this matter, the EU has criticized Apple for not taking steps in stopping misleading in-app purchases.