Google Sponsored Search Results to Tamper With App Store Experience?

By Dondi Tiples, Christian Post Contributor Friday, February 27, 2015

Technology websites are reporting Google is set to change the Android app store experience by sponsoring certain developers to show up over others.

With device users accustomed to the system used by Apple's App Store, browsing through over a million software applications to find the ones suitable to their smartphones and other devices, Google is reportedly set on changing all this by introducing an element in Google Play: advertisements.

Google is planning to make the addition of advertisements in their online store, which is a move that's speculated to cause users to have an increasingly difficult time finding the apps of their choice.

As the creator and developer of the world's most widely utilized mobile platform, Google is first and foremost a search and advertising conglomerate. While most of its apps and services are free, unlike in Apple's iOS store, Google earns most of its money collecting users' personal information and through advertising.

According to an announcement posted on Recode, Google is set to test paid search results on its apps store page within the next few weeks.

"We are always looking for new ways to help you get your apps in front of potential new users," Michael Siliski, Google Play product manager said in a Google blog post. "That's why, in the next few weeks, we will begin piloting sponsored search results on Google Play, bringing our unique expertise in search ads to the store."

Google rationalizes it will give developers a venue to promote their new apps, particularly in Google Play, which offers a selection of over one million software applications. The newest feature will also serve to generate additional revenue for the search giant.

The pilot will initially be available to a select group of advertisers.