Getting started with Android Market?

Question

How do I get started as an Android developer? I know that I need to pay a fee, but I'm unsure about other things. I have done iOS development, so forgive me for making comparisons or assumptions based on the Apple App Store.

• How do I distribute my apps?

• Is there an app review process?

• What do I gain by paying Google the $25.00 fee?

• Does Google provide a dashboard where I can see statistics of my App downloads?

• What percentage does Google take from my App sales?

• What payment method does Android market use?

• When does Google do pay-outs, or do I get paid immediately?

• Is there a minimum pay-out threshold?

Thanks.

Answer 1

• How do I distribute my apps?

  Just upload them to the Android Market. There's only one initial fee of $25 USD.

• What percentage does Google take from my App sales?

For applications that you choose to sell in Android Market, the transaction fee is equivalent to 30% of the application price. For example, if you sell your application at a price of $10.00, the fee will be $3.00, and you will receive $7.00 in payment. Taken from this link.

Basically all you need is in the FAQ... this part is very important:

Supported locations for merchants

Currently, developers in the below countries may register as Google Checkout merchants and sell priced applications:

* Austria
* France
* Germany
* Italy
* Japan
* Netherlands
* Spain
* United Kingdom
* United States

Here you will find tons of information: http://market.android.com/support/?hl=en

Answer 2

Also be aware of Setting the Market Price if you are coming from Apple. Once free forever free so be aware that you can't raise your app price after trying to do a limited time 'free' sale type of deal. Which explains the common practice of free/ad based version and a paid version of an app.