[bogwog]

It is anything but straightforward (unless you're the type of nerd who browses hacker news).

If you sell an app on an alternative store, how do you get the average person to install it? Adjust your marketing materials to teach them how to find the hidden "allow unknown sources" toggle on their phone, and then say something like: "Just ignore the many scary warning messages telling you that you're about to get a virus, and implying that we're malicious. Also, don't let it scan us for malware, not because we're malware, but because Play Protect may end up accidentally blocking us, and we have no idea how to get that reversed".

And even if you do that and manage to get enough customers to qualify as a potential competitive threat, Google will put together a task force[1] to destroy you.

1: https://www.androidcentral.com/google-fortnite-task-force

[dwaite]

> If you sell an app on an alternative store, how do you get the average person to install it?

Usually a button next to the "Google Play Store" and "Apple App Store" buttons?

If the developer feels they have to support some store's users themselves with installation and troubleshooting, they should just get their own app side loaded and maintain a direct relationship.

I wouldn't expect Microsoft to give me directions to a Best Buy to pick up Office 365.

[bogwog]

I think you misunderstood my comment.

> they should just get their own app side loaded and maintain a direct relationship.

How do you get the average person to sideload an app? Whether it's a store or a single app, Google Play will always have an unfair advantage.

[emodendroket]

You'd go to the manufacturer and convince them to bundle your app store I guess.

[bogwog]

Epic tried to do that, but Google made secret deals with OEMs offering them a cut of play store revenue if they don’t (https://www.theverge.com/2021/8/19/22632806/google-epic-prem...)

Part of the deal was that they couldn’t tell anyone about it without Google’s permission. So when you get a rejection from an OEM after you offer to bundle your store, you don’t get an explanation.