From 46c4b4886ae7b3a982cb1803f2b3ed7b7aa5f1c4 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Dirk Dougherty Date: Sun, 7 Oct 2012 15:05:07 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] Doc change: Subscriptions free trials on Google Play. Change-Id: I981eb94658f9f152d1c1a9915ffaadd63b4a965d --- .../distribute/googleplay/about/monetizing.jd | 7 ++- .../play/billing/billing_subscriptions.jd | 43 ++++++++++++++++++- docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/index.jd | 6 +-- 3 files changed, 48 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-) diff --git a/docs/html/distribute/googleplay/about/monetizing.jd b/docs/html/distribute/googleplay/about/monetizing.jd index d5c6dfad2df21..47d526629a720 100644 --- a/docs/html/distribute/googleplay/about/monetizing.jd +++ b/docs/html/distribute/googleplay/about/monetizing.jd @@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ games, or other content.

The payment methods available to users worldwide may vary, based on location, carrier network, and other factors.

-
+
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ targeted advertising.

@@ -111,6 +111,9 @@ could set a nominal price for your app at download and sell value add-ons, gameplay levels, and upgrades as in-app products. The only restriction is that free apps must remain free (to download) for the life of the app.

+

For details about in-app products or subscriptions, +see Google Play In-app Billing.

+

Flexible pricing in the currencies of your customers

diff --git a/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/billing_subscriptions.jd b/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/billing_subscriptions.jd index ae129511a2e3b..68eda196e3fec 100755 --- a/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/billing_subscriptions.jd +++ b/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/billing_subscriptions.jd @@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ parent.link=index.html
  • Subscription publishing and unpublishing
  • Subscription pricing
  • User billing
    • +
  • Free trial period
  • Subscription cancellation
  • App uninstallation
  • Refunds
    • @@ -94,8 +95,10 @@ digital content, from any type of app or game.

    As with other in-app products, you configure and publish subscriptions using the Developer Console and then sell them from inside apps installed on an Android-powered devices. In the Developer console, you create subscription -products and add them to a product list, setting a price for each, choosing a -billing interval of monthly or annually, and then publishing. In your apps, it’s +products and add them to a product list, then set a price and optional trial +period for each, choose a billing interval (monthly or annual), and then publish.

    + +

    In your apps, it’s straightforward to add support for subscription purchases. The implementation extends the standard In-app Billing API to support a new product type but uses the same communication model, data structures, and user interactions as for @@ -145,6 +148,7 @@ subscription and if so, allow access to your content.

  • You can set up subscriptions with either monthly or annual billing
  • You can sell multiple subscription items in an app with various billing intervals or prices, such as for promotions
    • +
  • You can offer a configurable trial period for any subscription. New!
  • Users purchase your subscriptions from inside your apps, rather than directly from Google Play
  • Users manage their purchased subscriptions from the My Apps screen in @@ -251,6 +255,41 @@ notify your backend servers of subscription purchases, tokens, and any billing errors that may occur. Your backend servers can use the server-side API to query and update your records and follow up with customers directly, if needed.

    +

    Free Trial Period

    + +

    For any subscription, you can set up a free trial period that lets users +try your subscription content before buying it. The trial period +runs for the period of time that you set and then automatically converts to a full subscription +managed according to the subscription's billing interval and price.

    + +

    To take advantage of a free trial, a user must "purchase" the full +subscription through the standard In-app Billing flow, providing a valid form of +payment to use for billing and completing the normal purchase transaction. +However, the user is not charged any money, since the initial period corresponds +to the free trial. Instead, Google Play records a transaction of $0.00 and the +subscription is marked as purchased for the duration of the trial period or +until cancellation. When the transaction is complete, Google Play notifies users +by email that they have purchased a subscription that includes a free trial +period and that the initial charge was $0.00.

    + +

    When the trial period ends, Google Play automatically initiates billing +against the credit card that the user provided during the initial purchase, at the amount set +for the full subscription, and continuing at the subscription interval. If +necessary, the user can cancel the subscription at any time during the trial +period. In this case, Google Play marks the subscription as expired immediately, +rather than waiting until the end of the trial period. The user has not +paid for the trial period and so is not entitled to continued access after +cancellation.

    + +

    You can set up a trial period for a subscription in the Developer Console, +without needing to modify or update your APK. Just locate and edit the +subscription in your product list, set a valid number of days for the trial +(must be 7 days or longer), and publish. You can change the period any time, +although note that Google Play does not apply the change to users who have +already "purchased" a trial period for the subscription. Only new subscription +purchases will use the updated trial period. You can create one free trial +period per subscription product.

    +

    Subscription cancellation

    Users can view the status of all of their subscriptions and cancel them if diff --git a/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/index.jd b/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/index.jd index a33b19961f130..134140d3d62d5 100755 --- a/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/index.jd +++ b/docs/html/guide/google/play/billing/index.jd @@ -42,10 +42,8 @@ and features, and more. You can use In-app Billing to sell products as

    -

    Support for subscriptions New!

    -

    In-app Billing now lets you sell subscriptions in your apps, as well as standard in-app products. - For details on how to sell subscriptions to content, services, and features, see the - Subscriptions documentation.

    +

    Free trials for subscriptions New!

    +

    You can now offer users a configurable free trial period for your in-app subscriptions. You can set up trials with a simple change in the Developer Console—no change to your app code is needed.