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Block this: Google removing ad blockers from its mobile app store

Categories: Android, Applications
By: , IntoMobile
Thursday, March 14th, 2013 at 7:01 AM
Block this: Google removing ad blockers from its mobile app store

Even though many users like using ad blockers on their mobile phones and tablets, Google decided to remove such apps from its mobile app store. As a result, few of the ad-blocking apps are no longer available from Google Play with search giant quoting section 4.4 of the Play store developer distribution agreement as a reason for doing this. Here’s what that sections says:

You agree that you will not engage in any activity with the Market, including the development or distribution of Products, that interferes with, disrupts, damages, or accesses in an unauthorized manner the devices, servers, networks, or other properties or services of any third party including, but not limited to, Android users, Google or any mobile network operator. You may not use customer information obtained from the Market to sell or distribute Products outside of the Market.

We can understand Google for taking this route since they make most of their money from advertising. Thankfully Android allows sideloading of apps so if you still want to block ads, you are free to “manually” install an app that will allow you to do so. We’re just hoping that a similar “initiative” won’t extend to the Chrome Store…

[via: AndroidCentral]

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run SymbianWatch.com which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

  • PeterSteinbeck

    As long as I can sideload apps, I don’t mind what Google is doing with Play Store…

  • http://www.facebook.com/rebecca.vega.169 Rebecca Vega

    I’m sorry, but ad blockers are just pointless. Do you really think we can make mobile ads go away? If we did, our favorite apps would go away too too – since most are only free because of ad support. Wouldn’t it be smarter to focus all this time and effort into making ads more relevant and better targeted so users will (1) want to receive them, and (2) actually benefit from receiving them? That’s what MM, Tapjoy, Airpush, and other smart ad networks are focusing on. And they’re growing like crazy because they’re improving the overall quality of the mobile ad experience. Blocking ads is just… counterproductive in every way imaginable.