Google allowing more Android developers to respond to user reviews

More than six months after introducing a Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) Play digital storefront update enabling leading Android application developers to respond to both positive and negative consumer reviews of their work, Google is now expanding the feature to others in the Android developer ranks.

In June 2012, the Google Play Android Developer Console introduced a text entry box enabling developers to post public responses to user-submitted reviews. Developers can leverage the tool to respond to positive feedback, defend against critiques, update consumers on changes and improvements or solicit ideas for future improvements and enhancements.

Google initially limited the feature to partners who've earned its Top Developer Badge--i.e., developers who've released Android apps of consistently high quality. The Next Web reports that some Google developers who haven't earned the badge may now respond to Play reviews as well. Google confirmed the change: "The feature originally rolled out to top developers, and we're gradually expanding it to additional Google Play developers," a spokesperson said, while noting the feature is not yet available to all Android software makers.

Late last year, Google moved to improve the quality of Play customer reviews, eliminating anonymous feedback by requiring all users to link Android app and game critiques to their Google+ social networking profile. All Google Play reviews are now publicly posted using the consumer's name and photo, with previous reviews credited to "A Google User." The change mirrors Google's recent efforts to remove the veil of anonymity from its YouTube platform by tying Google+ profiles to video channels.

Google Play (formerly Android Market) launched in October 2008 and now boasts more than 700,000 Android apps in all. Google recently said there are more than 500 million Android devices in use worldwide, with an average of 1.3 million additional activations each day.

For more:
- read this Next Web article

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