Google Play (formerly Android Market) is a digital distribution service operated and

developed by Google. It serves as the official app store for the Android operating system,
allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software
development kit (SDK) and published through Google. Google Play also serves as a digital
media store, offering music, magazines, books, movies, and television programs. It previously
offered Google hardware devices for purchase until the introduction of a separate online
hardware retailer, Google Store, on March 11, 2015.
Applications are available through Google Play either free of charge or at a cost. They can be
downloaded directly to an Android device through the Play Store mobile app or
by deploying the application to a device from the Google Play website. Applications exploiting
hardware capabilities of a device can be targeted to users of devices with specific hardware
components, such as a motion sensor (for motion-dependent games) or a front-facing camera
(for online video calling). The Google Play store had over 50 billion app downloads in 2013 and
has reached over 2.7 million apps published in 2017. It has been the subject of multiple issues
concerning security, in which malicious software has been approved and uploaded to the store
and downloaded by users, with varying degrees of severity.
Google Play was launched on March 6, 2012, bringing together the Android Market, Google
Music, and the Google eBookstore under one brand, marking a shift in Google's digital
distribution strategy. The services operating under the Google Play banner are: Google Play
Books, Google Play Games, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, and Google Play
Newsstand. Following their rebranding, Google has gradually expanded the geographical
support for each of the services.

Contents
[hide]

1Catalog content

o 1.1Android applications

1.1.1Play Games

o 1.2Music

o 1.3Books

o 1.4Movies and TV shows

o 1.5News publications and magazines

o 1.6Devices

2History

o 2.12008-2010

o 2.22011-2012

o 2.32013-2014
 o 2.42015-2016

o 2.52017

3Interface

4App monetization

5Play Store on Android

o 5.1Installation history

o 5.2Compatibility

6Google Play Services

7History of app growth

8Google Play Awards and yearly lists

9Application approval

o 9.1Application bans

10Application security

o 10.1Security issues

11Patent issues

12Gift cards

13Availability

14See also

15Notes

16References

17External links

Catalog content[edit]
Android applications[edit]
Further information: Android (operating system)
As of February 2017, Google Play features over 2.7 million Android applications. [1] Users in
over 145 countries can purchase apps, although Google notes on its support pages that "Paid
content may not be available in some provinces or territories, even if the governing country is
listed above."[2] Developers in over 150 locations can distribute apps on Google Play, though
not every location supports merchant registration.[3] To distribute apps, developers have to pay
a one-time $25 registration fee for a Google Play Developer Console account. [4] App
developers can control which countries an app is distributed to, as well as the pricing for the
app and in-app purchases in each country.[5][6] Developers receive 70% of the application price,
while the remaining 30% goes to the distribution partner and operating fees. [7] Developers can
set up sales, with the original price striked out and a banner underneath informing users when
the sale ends.[8][9][10] Google Play allows developers to release early versions of apps to a select
group of users, as alpha or beta tests.[11] Developers can also release apps through staged
rollouts, in which "your update reaches only a percentage of your users, which you can
increase over time."[12] Users can pre-order select apps (as well as movies, music, books, and
games) to have the items delivered as soon as they are available. [13] Some network
carriers offer billing for Google Play purchases, allowing users to opt for charges in the monthly
phone bill rather than on credit cards.[14] Users can request refunds within 48 hours after a
purchase if "something you bought isn't working, isn't what you expected, was bought by
accident, or you changed your mind about the purchase". [15] Apps meeting specific usability
requirements can qualify as an Android Wear app.[16]
Play Games[edit]
Main article: Google Play Games
Google Play Games is an online gaming service for Android that features real-time multiplayer
gaming capabilities, cloud saves, social and public leaderboards, and achievements. The
service was introduced at the Google I/O 2013 Developer Conference,[17] and the
standalone mobile app was launched on July 24, 2013.[18]

Music[edit]
Main article: Google Play Music

Global availability of Google Play Music

Google Play Music is a music and podcast streaming service and online music locker. It
features over 40 million songs,[19] and gives users free cloud storage of up to 50,000 songs.[20]
As of January 2017, Google Play Music is available in 62 countries.[21]

Books[edit]
Main article: Google Play Books
Google Play Books is an ebook digital distribution service. Google Play offers over five million
ebooks available for purchase,[22] and users can also upload up to 1,000 of their own ebooks in
the form of PDF or EPUB file formats.[