News On App Stores, February 2022

App Store 

App Store Small Business Program no longer prohibits app transfers

In 2020, Apple announced a new App Store Small Business Program, which allows developers to qualify for a commission rate of 15% if they earn up to $1 million. However, Apple had been rejecting developers who transferred apps from one account to another which is fortunately no longer the case. 

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

Federal broadband administration adding to antitrust pressure on Apple’s App Store

The new head of the federal broadband administration, reflecting an executive order from President Biden, will extend to reviewing competitiveness in the mobile app ecosystem, adding yet another source of antitrust pressure to Apple’s App Store.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Mac

Updated Apple Developer certificates now available

As a reminder, the intermediate certificate updates are now available for the Apple Push Notification service (APNs) and Developer ID:

• Apple Worldwide Developer Relations Intermediate Certificate (G4)

• APNs SSL certificates are now issued from a new intermediate certificate (Worldwide Developer Relations G4 sub CA) exclusively focused on APNs. 

• Apple Developer ID Intermediate Certificate (G2)

• The digital certificates you use to sign your software and installer packages on macOS are now issued from a new Developer ID Intermediate Certificate that expires on September 16, 2031.

Full content and details (external sources): Apple Developer

Get ready for App Store sessions

Connect with Apple experts through online sessions February 15 to March 29 to learn about the latest App Store features and get your questions answered.

Full content and details (external sources): Apple Developer

Google Play Store 

News on Google Play Store

• Google now specifies what version of “Android OS” is required to install an app on the Play Store. Going to the “App info” section (under “About this app”) of a Play Store listing today reveals that “Android OS” is now a line item. On the web, listings often resort to “Varies with device,” but the mobile version is more specific and cognizant of APKs variants.

• Last May, Google announced that each app in the Play Store is getting a “Data safety” section. It serves a dual-purpose for developers and end users alike. This upcoming section lets developers communicate what user data apps collect, share, and how it’s used.

• Google Play will now show the progress of new app installs right on your homescreen, mimicking iOS, and was previously limited to restoring from a backup on Android. This only works for new app installs and not updates.

Full content and details (external sources): 9to5Google, 9to5Google, 9to5Google

Huawei App Gallery

Huawei AppGallery 12.0.1.300 version brings new security features

Huawei has now started to roll out a new app version – 12.0.1.300 for the AppGallery app market. It brings new security features that improve the overall usability of this Huawei app distribution platform.

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral

Download the latest Huawei AppGallery APK [12.0.1.300]

You can download the latest version here (February 21, 2022)

Full content and details (external sources): HuaweiCentral