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Google tests a monthly subscription plan for premium apps and games

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By Alan Friedman

Published: Aug 02, 2019, 12:05 AM

With Apple Arcade set to launch this fall giving iOS users access to a number of mobile games for a monthly subscription fee, it appears that Google is testing something similar. Android Police received screenshots from an Android user revealing a new service called Google Play Pass. For $4.99 a month, Android users receiving the test can subscribe to Play Pass; this will give them access to hundreds of premium apps and games for just one monthly payment. There are no ads and all in-app purchases are unlocked.

"Explore a curated catalog spanning puzzle games to premium music apps and everything in between. From action hits to puzzles and fitness trackers, with Google Play Pass you unlock access to hundreds of premium apps and games without ads, download fees or in-app purchases."-Google Play Pass

Google admits that it is just testing Play Pass right now, which means that it isn't guaranteed to end up rolling out to all Android phones. The company could be waiting to see how Apple prices Arcade first, and whether the service becomes popular before it rolls out Play Pass for real at a set monthly price. It appears that if Google does launch this feature, it will give those interested a free 10-day trial.

With Google Play Pass currently being tested, some Android users can access premium apps and games for one monthly price

Apple is pushing hard to hit $50 billion in Services revenue by next year, and Arcade could help put the company over the top. For the fiscal third quarter announced a couple of days ago, Apple generated a record $11.45 billion in Services revenue. That figure doesn't include the yet-to-launch Arcade but does track at an annual rate of nearly $46 billion in gross for the company's second-largest unit.

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Alan, an ardent smartphone enthusiast and a veteran writer at PhoneArena since 2009, has witnessed and chronicled the transformative years of mobile technology. Owning iconic phones from the original iPhone to the iPhone 15 Pro Max, he has seen smartphones evolve into a global phenomenon. Beyond smartphones, Alan has covered the emergence of tablets, smartwatches, and smart speakers.

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