Has Yandex solved the problem of Android store fragmentation?

The open-source project One Platform Foundation (OPF), in collaboration with Yandex, whose developers helped create it, have announced the AppDF format, designed to significantly simplify the publication of Android applications.

Issues

One of the main issues with Android is the variety of app stores. It’s challenging to make money on Google Play, so it's advisable to present your application on as many platforms as possible.

The problem is as follows: there are many stores, and uploading applications to each one takes time (at least 30 minutes, according to Yandex representatives). Considering that "games are a service" (they need regular updates, new descriptions, and so on), the simple desire to increase ROI can grow into another substantial expense.

Previously, there were few solutions to this problem. Either learn to earn on Google Play or go to Inmobi, which offers to publish your app on 130 platforms for 30% of the revenue.

Solution

The creation of AppDF, which Yandex announced today, is an interesting alternative to Inmobi App Publish and also a potential solution to the fragmentation issue across stores.

An AppDF file is a universal app package that contains all the necessary accompanying information (screenshots, description, tags). Once created, the developer simply needs to upload this file to the app stores. And that's it; the program is ready for release.

An Additional "But"

At first glance, this is an interesting solution, especially considering the rapid growth of the Chinese market, where there are hundreds of stores collectively bringing in millions of dollars. But, as always, there are caveats.

Firstly, such an AppDF file must be supported by the store itself. No support means no upload. Currently, OPF only has Opera Mobile Store, SlideME, Yandex.Store, and the CodeNgo service in its arsenal. This is clearly not enough for successful sales.

Secondly, various stores have different policies regarding at least the number of characters in descriptions, not to mention formats and banner sizes. It's unlikely that app stores will agree to unify all these parameters for the sake of AppDF.