16Dec2009

On Paperdroid Pro without the (Google) Android Market

UPDATE: Paperdroid Pro is now available at andappstore!

I've spent already too much time trying to figure out a way to get Paperdroid Pro to people without access to the Android Market (or its paid apps section). The alternative markets out there all require some sort of added infrastructure (and code), which would force me to maintain a separate Paperdroid Pro codebase for them. This doesn't seem worth the hassle, given the current and predictable amount of Pro customers (one day I'll share the laughs).



On the other hand the DIY alternative (Paypal + emailing of the app, some serious bleeding edge technology), while reasonable on the required amount of work, seems too much vulnerable to frauds or just any kind of headache (complains? cancellation requests? misaligned payment amounts?) that would immediatly make it inefficient.

If you have any ideas/remarks/insights on the subject, please share! I'm kind of out of ideas.

6 comments:

Mark G. Hardy | December 18, 2009 at 7:50 PM

For heavens sake its so simple. Paid SMS. In the meantime when I get my "black" copy would you like to know how it works and how can I send a "donation" if its any good? As an Archos 5 IT owner - and the hundreds of thousands of Dell tablet owners to come in 2nd qtr 2010 - you need to wake up and smell the air.

lowne | December 20, 2009 at 8:57 PM

Uhm, interesting idea, but I think that (if at all possible in EU/internationally) the bureaucratic overhead would be even worse. More to the point, it would *still* require a separate codebase for the licensing, with the added hassle of mantaining also the server-side one.
The problem is simple: even supposing a 30% non-Android-Market share, on the current trends, I should work on this for, let's see... 5 minutes to justify a 1-month ROI :)

Unknown | December 27, 2009 at 3:01 PM

Please use alternate markets: AnnAppStore, SlideMe.
I would like to buy your app, I rooted my Samsung Galaxy, I run Market Enabler, but I still have no access to paid software ;(

hrichyzurnalistiky | January 17, 2010 at 1:55 PM

i don't see a problem in buying applications, but as i live in Europe and T-Mobile here is not allowing us to go to paid section of Android Market i am stuck. Indefinitely stuck with only free applications :(

Anonymous | February 2, 2010 at 2:19 PM

Lowme,
I have done PayPal and DIY purchases with jailbroken app developers and am happy to say I had great experience and prefer direct contact with authors, but that must be hard to maintain if you want huge revenue and scale of sales.

lowne | February 2, 2010 at 4:05 PM

My current revenue wouldn't be enough to feed an anorexic cat :)
At any rate: Paperdroid Pro is now available at andappstore - http://andappstore.com/AndroidApplications/apps/Paperdroid_Pro

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