Well, that was fast! Exactly one week after it was hit with a class-action lawsuit over unauthorized in-app purchases, Google issued an update to the Play store, which will allow users to set restrictions on these types of purchases. Just this week, Apple did the same with the release of iOS 7.1.
Version 4.6.16 of the Google Play store now gives users more options for the frequency with which they must reenter their passcodes to make purchases from the app store. Previously, there was only one option, which made users reenter their passcodes 30 minutes after their initial purchase. This window of passcode-free purchase time, allowed many children to make unauthorized in-app purchases on their parents' smartphones and tablets.
Now, Google offers three options: You can choose to never enter your passcode to make a purchase, do so every 30 minutes just like before or have to reenter it before every single purchase. You will be able to choose these options for each app that requires in-app purchases.
In order to access these new options, you must first download the new version of the Play store app. Once you've done that, every time you buy an app, Google will let you know if it has in-app purchase options. If the app in question does offer additional features at a price, you can go to Settings, User Controls and the Password to choose the in-app purchase restrictions you are interested in for that particular app.
The options are similar to those offered by Apple in its new iOS 7.1 update, which allows users to restrict in-app purchases, too. Apple's options include keeping the traditional 15-minute window and asking for the passcode every time you make a purchase. Like Google's update, the iOS 7.1 fix allows users to have different settings for different apps.
Both Apple and Google were forced to act after irate parents sued the companies over unauthorized in-app purchases made by their children. Apple received a mandate from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to fix the issue by March 31, but the initial lawsuit was filed in 2011. In comparison with Google, Apple reacted very slowly to demands for new restrictions. Google responded within one week of receiving notice that a class-action lawsuit had been filed against it.
In-app purchases are very controversial, especially with parents, who feel that their children are being targeted by app makers. In-app purchases are very common in mobile games and other kid-friendly apps. Some of those purchases can amount to a lot of money. So far, Apple and Google have taken most of the heat, with app makers going unpunished.
