Rumor: Google is working on a trial mode for apps

According to an American pay site, Google is working on the possibility to try parts of applications before users have to purchase the entire application. In this way, Google wants to entice users faster to put down money for an app.

Currently, Android users can try apps for free within a certain period – recently that period was extended to two hours – because they can get their money back within that period.

Google seems to think that the company is not yet able to entice enough people to buy paid apps: according to the usually well-informed website The Information, the company is working on the possibility to test an app, where only part of the functionality is accessible. is.

Users could possibly indicate which part of the app they want to test. For example, the feature would be useful in less developed markets, where people can spend less money on apps. However, even in more developed markets, Google would struggle to get people to pay for apps because relatively few people link a payment method such as a credit card to their Google account and because piracy is relatively easy because users can download apps downloaded from the Internet. to install.

Android would not be the first mobile operating system with the possibility of ‘trials’. Windows Phone has had that for a long time. In the Store, users can then download an app or game and use it in part, after which users can upgrade.