Do not say "free" for in-app purchases

Netease Technology News July 20, according to foreign media reports, for the change of the bid to provide the purchase of the game marked the way, Google and Apple finally respond - of course, thanks to the pressure exerted by the European Commission.

The European Union had previously demanded that the two tech giants change how they market their games. The reason is that many parents complain that they have to pay Google Play and iTunes a high price for their purchases of everything from Farm Heroes Saga.

One of the main complaints is that in-app purchases should not be branded as "free" downloads because they are not actually free. The rectification put forward by the EU requires that the point be pointed to Google. Google will no longer flag in-game purchases for free in the Google Play Store.

Other EU requirements include: "Incentives" should not be "directly motivated" for in-app purchases, provide complete contact information, and clearly state payment agreements. Google agrees to develop guidelines for this type of game to stop encouraging kids to buy without their parents.

Apple also agreed to address these issues, but it has not yet provided a concrete implementation schedule. Earlier, the company was asked to add a reminder feature to its iOS7.1 system to alert people before buying it. In the United States, it is also subject to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) directive to compensate 32.5 million U.S. dollars for parents who have suffered losses as a result of their children's unauthorized purchases.

In the face of pressure from the European Union, Apple also said in a statement that it already has "very easy-to-use" parental controls. It has also taken steps to "clearly identify" any offer for in-store purchases. Apple pointed out that the App Store Kids Zone is better protected because those apps are designed for people under 13 years of age.

It is also worth mentioning that Apple plans to add a new feature called "Ask to Buy" (request for purchase) to iOS 8, which will enable parents to better control their children's purchase behavior in the App Store. (Hao Hui)