Google wants to reward you for buying stuff from the Play Store.
Google Play Points is a new rewards program that's now official. With it, you'll earn points for all Google Play purchases. This includes paid apps or games, in-app purchases, in-app subscriptions, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies, and Google Play Music. Google says that you'll also earn points when you install "certain apps and games".
Google Play Points is currently only available in Japan. With the program, you'll get 1 point for every ¥100 ($0.89 USD) that you spend. Points can be used to get select in-app items and Google Play Credit. As you earn more points, you'll reach new levels, each of which will get you more points for your purchases as well as other benefits. Here are the levels:
Bronze level (up to 249 points):
- 1 point earned for every ¥100 spent
Silver level (250–999 points):
- 1.25 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- 1 ¥300 credit for in-app items
- 1 ¥100 movie rental
Gold level (1,000–3,999 points):
- 1.5 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- +1 ¥300 credit for in-app items
- 2 ¥500 ebook credits
- +2 ¥100 movie rentals
Platinum level (4,000–14,999 points):
- 1.75 points earned for every ¥100 spent.
- +1 ¥300 credit for in-app items
- +4 ¥500 ebook credits
- +4 ¥100 movie rentals
Diamond level (more than 15,000 points):
- 2 points earned for every ¥100 spent
- +2 ¥300 credits for in-app items
- +6 ¥500 ebook credits
- +5 ¥100 movie rentals
It's unclear when or if Google Play Points will roll out in other parts of the globe. For Google to put all of this effort into a rewards system, though, it seems likely that we'll eventually see the program arrive in other territories. It seems like a decent system for folks who buy a lot of stuff from the Play Store, and for those who don't, Google is hoping that the program will entice them to change that.