How does android marketplace work?

[daal]

Noob alarm.

If I associate my google account with my daughter's phone, is that like giving her my credit card?

Background:

My daughter got a smart phone for christmas that she basically uses as a glorified mp4 player. The phone has wlan, so she can connect to the internet at home, but otherwise not. She uses a prepaid card for telephoning, but I suppose it doesn't support UMTS or whatever that is that lets you access the internet from anywhere. She would like to download some games, and wouldn't object if I installed some go software on it, but the android marketplace appears to be tied to a google account. Should she open a google account? How does paying for apps work?

[LocoRon]

Yeah, I think your Google checkout account will remember your credit card info. I've never had to put it in again, which is nice for my uses.

If you go to your Google dashboard ( https://www.google.com/dashboard/ ) you can see what info Google has stored. You can also delete your payment info from there (this link might take you directly to your stored payment options: https://checkout.google.com/viewWallet?pli=1 ).

It's probably best to just get her own Google account.

I don't think Google has any "app gifting" options (although I think I sent them this suggestion). So you'd probably have to pay for the apps through her account. After that, you should delete the info from the dashboard. Of course, retaining the credit card info might actually be an option that you can disable when you input it for the first time; I don't remember.

[chef]

On that note, where can I download an android app for go? I've looked everywhere.

[CSamurai]

Well, what sort of App? If you're looking for play options, the KGS app is one of the reasons I bought an android (check the marketplace for KGS). There are IGS apps as well. There is an android tsumego program, but it is not nearly as good as Smartgo for the iphone, and I have had trouble finding a good tsumego program, if anyone knows of one, do inform.

And on that note, if Anders Kiruelf is reading this, I know it's highly unlikely, but I'd love to see an android port of iPhone's Smartgo.

[hyperpape]

There's whole thread on android go apps in the computer go forum.

[daal]

Just in case anyone is curious, I did discover a way to let my daughter buy apps without giving her my credit card: Here in Germany, there is a service called mywirecard, which allow you to purchase a pre-paid credit card. You basically transfer money to the card at a price of 1 Euro per transfer and can then use the card to make purchases on the android market or elsewhere on the net where a credit card is required, up to the amount that you transfered to the card.

I haven't actually tried this yet though - there are still enough free apps to keep her busy, so I don't have any first hand experience with the service, but the website did have a live chat function were somebody answered my questions, so it doesn't appear to be a fly-by-night operation.

BTW., I was wrong about her not objecting to a go app on her phone - until yesterday, when she surprised my by installing one.

[Chew Terr]

Regarding that service: I have heard of a similar thing in America, and am told that it is reputable. Not sure if it's the same thing (I don't remember the name of the service that my boss uses), but the correspondence makes me think it's more likely that the site you referenced is legit.

[LocoRon]

Oh yeah, there are a ton of options for pre-paid credit cards. I used to receive those as presents (sure was better than some gift card that is locked into some specific retailer!)

I think just so long as it operates by one of the major credit agencies (Visa, etc.) you should be fine, but I don't know. I just use my debit card for the Android Market.