The Play Store now lets you pre-register for apps

Google is slowly improving the set of tools developers can use to publish and promote their apps in the Play Store. Features like promoted apps in search results help with app discovery, while the rumored A/B testing capability may help developers drastically increase conversion levels.

A new Play Store feature that will improve the experience for users and publishers alike is app pre-registration. You can now register your interest for an upcoming app or game, just as you would register for updates on a new service or a new smartphone.

Apps that use the new feature will have a “Pre-register” button where the Install or the Purchase button can normally be found. Pre-registration doesn’t mean you will have to pay for the app once it comes out; you will simply receive a notification on your device when the app becomes available for download, and it’s up to you if you want to purchase or install it. You can always unregister by visiting the Play Store listing again and clicking “Unregister.”

One of the first titles to use the new “Pre-registration” features is Terminator Genisys: Revolution, from Glu.

This is one of those simple features that make a lot of sense and feel like they should’ve been added much earlier. Thanks to it, app developers will be able to better promote their apps and stage well-oiled launches. And for users, it will become much easier to keep up with new releases. With so many quality titles hitting Android, app pre-registration could come in really handy.