In an unprecedented move, Google is giving away patents to startups and developers across the globe. The Patent Starter Program is available to the first 50 eligible participants who fill out this form, so applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. Eligible startups or developers must have 2014 revenues between $500,000 and $20,000,000.
Read MoreWhile the magic of apps is simple and elegant offerings that consumers enjoy, hidden from view is a complex web of intertwined co-dependent parties that the Alliance calls “the app ecosystem.” In order to succeed and convert an idea into a business, app developers and publishers rely on many ecosystem partners, including high-quality operating systems and devices, and providers of analytics, advertising and marketing services.
Read MoreToday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report making privacy and security recommendations to industry regarding the Internet of Things (IoT) report today. The report highlights numerous examples of positive uses of IoT, but also identifies several risks.
Read MoreOn December 9, more than 23 privacy officials signed an open letter to app marketplaces, asking for privacy policy requirements. The letter was sent directly to Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, Nokia, Blackberry, and Amazon, but is ultimately meant for any marketplace that sells apps.
Read MoreStartups and small businesses who sell digital goods in Europe are gearing up for a major change coming in the new year. Despite outcry from these business owners, new EU VAT, or value-added tax, regulations are set to go into effect on January 1st, 2015.
Read MoreApple has introduced a small but important change in how apps are presented in the App Store. Now, users will see a “GET” button next to a non-paid app, instead of the previous “FREE” button. There is no public reason for the change, but we can speculate that the change is prompted by several controversies around non-paid apps with in-app purchases.
Read MoreThe Apps Alliance enjoyed attending the Family Online Safety Institute Conference (FOSI) in Washington, DC this week! The FOSI conference, titled “Redefining Online Safety,” interpreted online safety for today’s families, highlighted strategies to keep families safe, and explained techniques for determining risk while also still enjoying the benefits of the internet.
Read MoreAccording to a recent Comscore report, total mobile activity including mobile browser usage recently eclipsed desktop use, reaching 60 percent of browsing time. And Europeans are at the forefront as they spend 18% more time using apps than their US counterparts. This is a historical shift which requires us to rethink and appreciate that the web, once a singular digital distribution model, is now mobile and multifaceted. After all, this is the ‘connected’ generation.
Read MoreAndroid 5.0 Lollipop is Google’s biggest overhaul of the Android platform since Gingerbread. To help developers get started on updating or building apps for Android 5.0 Lollipop, here is a breakdown of everything developers need to know about the new OS.
Read MoreApple’s announcements grabbed the attention of consumers and tech fans, but what do they mean for app developers? We’ve compiled a rundown of what we’re excited about and what our members think about these new opportunities
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