Amazon Releases New Shopping App Because Its Old App Broke Google Play Policies

Back in September, Amazon updated its main application on Google Play to include the option for everyone to install not only Amazon Instant Video, but other apps from their store as well. The app was alive and well for some time, but according to Amazon, Google made a change to its Google Play policies shortly after, putting their app in violation. To comply with Google’s new policies, they have since released a new app called Amazon Shopping that no longer includes direct access to Amazon’s Appstore, and instead tells users that they need to open Amazon’s site on their browser to install their store’s apps, including Instant Video. 

Here is the statement they are passing around the web today concerning the new app:

We launched a new Amazon App for Android Phones on September 9 that provides an award-winning mobile shopping experience, enables customers to discover and purchase all of Amazon’s digital catalog, and provides customers access to the Prime Instant Video player and unlimited streaming of over 40,000 movies and TV episodes. Google subsequently changed their Developer Distribution Agreement on September 25. As a result, we removed the app from Google Play and published the Amazon Shopping app. Customers who want the best Amazon experience on their Android phone, including access to Prime Instant Video and Amazon’s entire digital catalog, can still get the Amazon App for Android Phones at amazon.com/androidapp.

The internet would lead you to believe this is huge, controversial news (which it isn’t), so if you want to read more on this topic, head over to TechCrunch.

The rest of you can do a few different things. First, the Amazon app with Instant Video and Appstore access still works and is alive and well on Google Play, though you will need a direct link to access it (provided below). If you don’t want that app, you can download the new Amazon Shopping app, also located below. And if you want the “best Amazon experience,” then you will need to get the goods directly from Amazon.

And that’s that!

Play Links:  Amazon (original store with Appstore access) | Amazon Shopping (new shopping app)