Google announced that Google Play Store for free apps will be available in Iran now .
Google is expanding its services in Iran after starting off on the wrong foot. The web giant announced Monday that developers can make their free apps available in Iran directly but restricted access to paid apps and apps that use in-app billing. The Google-Iran relationship has not been the most favorable as several services such as Search and Gmail have been blocked in the past.
"Developers, starting today you can make your free apps available in Iran. To add this country to your distribution, please visit the Pricing & Distribution page in the Developer Console and select the checkbox for Iran directly," Google said in Android Developer's Google+ page. "Note that this new distribution option is currently available only for free apps and not for priced apps or apps that use in-app billing."
Google's precise announcement is promising for developers and the company both to expand services in the country. With the introduction of Google Play Store in Iran, users will have access to a wide range of apps, but only if developers proactively publish their apps in Iran. While Google is treading a new path, it may just be a matter of time before other companies consider similar options.
Considering the past relationship between Google and Iran, it is questionable whether or not the service will last. But hoping that it would, many Iranian users have expressed their excitement on Google's decision.
"I'm so glad to see this good news at Google website, I hope another companies do the same-thing that Google Did," wrote a user Saeid Nik about Google's announcement.
"This is great news for Iranian people. now they don't need to use 3rd party markets or sideload the apps which causes lots of problems and malware infection. Thx Google," another user Farzad Fallah wrote on G+.
