When Google launched its first app store, known as the Android Market in 2008, there were just 50 apps available for users to choose from. At the time, Google’s Eric Chu described the store as more a “marketplace” where developers would have an open and unobstructed environment to launch their content. In fact, debuting a new app was as simple as registering as a merchant, uploading the content and giving it a description. For developers, this was the golden age for launching a new product. In those first few years, some app store optimization and a limited social media advertising campaign could be enough to ensure…
