While the Google Play Store might have come a long, long way since the days of the Android Marketplace, it continues to pale in comparison to Apple's App Store when it comes to actual money spent on paid applications. With a new program called Google Play Points, it would appear that Google's starting to take steps to correct this.
Play Points are currently live for users in Japan, and as the name suggests, you earn points for various purchases that are made throughout the Play Store. You earn more points as you spend more money, and per Google's official support page, the whole breakdown for the program is as follows:
Bronze Level (up to 249 points)
- 1 point earned for every ¥100 spent
Silver level (250 - 999 points)
- 1.25 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- One ¥300 credit for in-app items
- One ¥100 movie rental
Gold level (1,000 - 3,999 points)
- 1.5 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- Another ¥300 credit for in-app items
- Two ¥500 ebook credits
- Two ¥100 movie rentals
Platinum level (4,000 - 14,999 points)
- 1.75 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- Another ¥300 credit for in-app items
- Four ¥500 ebook credits
- Four ¥100 movie rentals
Diamond level (15,000 points and up)
- 2 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- Two ¥300 credits for in-app items
- Six ¥500 ebook credits
- Five ¥100 movie rentals
As you obtain Play Points, you can use these on in-app-purchases or convert them into regular Google Play credits. It's still unclear if Play Points will expand to other regions outside of Japan, but based on what we're seeing, this seems like a program that users in all countries would be interested in.
Do you hope Google Play Points comes to your country?
