Ways to offer app as free, and still charge users to pay for the service/usage?

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Ways to offer app as free, and still charge users to pay for the service/usage?

I want to make my app free on the Android Market, also the country I live it, is not allowed to upload paid apps yet, neither to download it.

But also I want to charge the users somehow for using it, without Android Market as that opts out the usage. Probably it would be an annual fee.

So I am wondering, if I have a website where users can register, and pay for the membership. Can I use this on the app? So the app will require the user to provide a login for the website, and there will be a credit check, if it allowed to use it it will continue.

What do you say, is this legal according to Android Market rules, and is this possible?
Are outthere similar apps that does this kind of model I described?
This is my idea, but I am wondering if there is some other way to charge for the service?

Remember the milk does this... I'll edit if I find any more details.

gary comtois 2010-09-10 13:45:34

Remember the Milk (RTM) requires you to subscribe to the "pro" version of their service in order to use their Android app. The "pro" version of their service has other benefits, so it is not only for Android app users. It is more that the "pro" service has Android support as a feature.

CommonsWare 2010-09-10 13:48:20

That's true. Good point. It was the only app I could think of, one with a similar idea. The app is not usable unless you log in with your pro account.

gary comtois 2010-09-10 14:07:00

But their App is offered free, and they charge for Pro membership on their website?

Pentium10 2010-09-10 14:11:57

Yes. You can get the app and see for yourself... a free account won't do anything.

gary comtois 2010-09-10 14:27:48

As previous answer you can do RTM model - your login/password will check if user is premium. Or you can sell another app ( premium key ) that user downloads and your main app will unlock premium features.

Alex Volovoy 2010-09-10 13:48:09

Isn't this against the agreement? Check section 3.3 the ending is `All fees received by Developers for Products distributed via the Market must be processed by the Market's Payment Processor.` http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.html

Pentium10 2010-09-10 14:04:46

Well your key in theory is a separate "product" and you gonna distribute it outside the market. But obviously i'm not a lawyer and have not idea if it's against agreement or not.

Alex Volovoy 2010-09-10 18:14:56

ansaurus

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Ways to offer app as free, and still charge users to pay for the service/usage?

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