Background:
The EU have opened a new Anti-Trust investigation into Google, focusing on Android and the bundling of the “Play Store” and other apps if a device manufacturer wants to feature core apps such as Google Search and Google Maps.
Implications for Gambling:
As Google does not allow Real Money Gambling Apps in the Play Store, this anti-trust case could be a good thing for the industry. We see a potential relaxation of restrictions by for example, allowing the pre-installation by manufactures of other App Stores or even truly opening the Play Store to all Apps.
Security Implications:
Interestingly this week, Google also released their Annual Android Security Update which says: “We also saw that devices that allow apps from outside of Google Play are around 10 times more likely to have PHAs (Potentially Harmful Apps) than those that only install from Play”.
However it is all relative as over 99% of Android devices have no harmful apps installed but does help make the case to open the Play Store up to Gambling apps.
Links:
Anti-trust Press Release
Android Security Report
Sensor Store App Report
Key Highlights:
- Combined worldwide App Store and Google Play downloads grey 8.2% YoY in Q1 2016
- Snapchat for iOS overtook Facebook in U.S downlaods for the first time (queue rush to open corporate snapchat accounts)
- Games category is nearly 4x bigger on iOS and 5x bigger on Android than second most popular category on each store.
News Round-Up
Telegram Bots:
Telegram the Messaging app has launched a $1million fund to encourage developers to build bots for their platform
https://telegram.org/blog/botprize
Peak Niche Casino?
Have we reached peak niche casino, with the launch of “Toms Casino” a gay themed casino? It is the official casino of “Tom of Finland” the iconic artist and running on the Gaming Innovation Group (Guts.com / Rizk.com) platform. We are off to register jumping the shark casino
Facebook Ad Verification:
Facebook announced this week they will be adding “Nielsen, comScore and Integral Ad Science will start to verify advert viewability and attention metrics for photo and video adverts on Facebook”. What they do not mention if this will be available on a “per campaign” basis or will be done to create more generic case studies. Announcement Here
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