The Google Play app store will now be offering promo codes, allowing Android developers to sell their mobile applications like iOS and Mac applications in the Apple Store. A new option in Google Play Developer Console seems to give app developers the ability to provide codes for app and in-app content.

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Android Police first spotted the new Google Play Store feature. It reported that new details are also available in the company's help documents.

App developers basically use the promo codes to provide a free copy of their mobile software to possible future customers or reviewers, according to eWeek. People can redeem the codes through any online outlet where the app is offered.

The search giant reports that developers can distribute a maximum of 500 free codes each quarter. They can roll over unused codes to the next quarter.

Developers could use the 500 codes in any way. For example, they could use all the codes for app promotion; or they could use half the promo codes for that function, and the other 250 codes to market an in-app product.

Google's 500 codes per quarter is much higher than Apple's allowance of 100 for every app's version. The latter's promo codes also do not function for in-app purchases.

Android developers will have the ability to set the codes' start and end dates. They also have the option to pause promotions.

Google's promo codes cannot be used for subscriptions. However, the tech company pointed out that in-app promotions must be added before the codes can be used for in-app purchases.

The new promo codes will be a big benefit for Google Play developers. They can help to get their new apps to media outlets, and market the mobile applications through promotions and giveaways, according to Tech Crunch.

Google's new promo codes have responded to a feature that Android developers have been asking about for many years. They have been bringing up the issue through sources such as chat boards.

Many Android app developers have already made workarounds to offer unofficial promo codes for app upgrades and in-app content. However, they had to create their own systems instead of using one from Google Play, which provided less time for developing their apps.