This is Google Play's First Third-Party App Store in the US
As promised earlier this summer, Google has finally listed a rival Android app store through Google Play. Users can now download Aptoide Games, a games-focused digital storefront run by Portugal-based Aptoide, from Google Play. Once downloaded, the two apps exist simultaneously; neither replaces the other.
The listing follows a long legal battle between Epic Games and Google, with the former accusing the latter of propping up an illegal monopoly by prohibiting third-party app stores on its smartphone OS. In 2023, a jury found that Google violated competition laws through its Play Store practices. A judge later ordered Google to allow rival app stores access to its catalog.
Under the new terms, participating stores must meet Google's security, privacy, support, and content-policy requirements and pay Google a $5,000 annual fee to use the Play Store catalog. Apps downloaded from that catalog also deliver Google its typical Play service fee. Developers...
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