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How to create a Google Play developer account for my Vimeo OTT branded Android apps

This feature requires an Enterprise plan on Vimeo OTT.

This guide will walk you through the steps to set up your Google Developer account, which will allow you to have an entirely white-labeled Android and Android TV app that is under your brand's name only. Complete these steps only if you've purchased an Android and/or Android TV app.

In this article:

Create a Google account

If you already use Gmail or any other Google services, you most likely have your own Google account. If not, you can create one on Google's sign-up page.

We recommend creating a separate Google account solely associated with your developer profile. This account should not be specific to an individual and instead should be associated with your organization.

Enroll for a Developer Account

Once you have your Google account, you will need to enroll for a developer account with Google. Be sure that you are logged in with the Google account you intend to use before starting this process.

  1. When presented with the options for choosing an account type, select Organization.
  2. Registering as an organization will require you to insert the following information:
    • Developer Name (this can be different from your legal business name)
    • As per your linked Google Payments profile (see Ensure the Google Publishing API is Enabled for more information):
      • A D-U-N-S Number 
        • A D-U-N-S number is a unique nine-digit number assigned to you and maintained by Dun & Bradstreet. Your business must be recognized as a legal entity to enter into the legal terms and obligations of Google Developer Program agreements.
        • If you are not sure if you already have been given a D-U-N-S number, you can use their look-up tool. If you have an Apple application with Vimeo OTT, you likely already have one or you are in the process of creating one! 
        • If you are not listed, you’ll need to submit your information to Dun & Bradstreet to receive a new D-U-N-S number. When you are prompted to select the primary reason for your registration, choose the relevant option from the available drop-down menu. As mentioned above, you are able to choose I'm an Apple developer if you also have an Apple application within your Vimeo OTT agreement.
    • Organization Name 
    • Organization Address
    • Organization Phone Number
    • Organization Website
    • Contact Name
    • Contact Email Address (will need to be verified with Google)
    • Contact Phone Number (will need to be verified with Google)
    • Developer Email Address (different from contact email address, will need to be verified with Google)
    • Developer Phone Number (different from contact number, will need to be verified with Google)

Your developer name, physical business email address, and phone number will appear on Google Play to users and can be changed any time. 

Invite Vimeo to your Google Developer account

After you have created a developer account, you will need to invite Vimeo to your account. This gives Vimeo permission to publish apps on your behalf.

  1. Open your Google Developer Play Console in a new incognito or private web browser
  2. Select Users and permissions
  3. On the Users and permissions page, under the Users tab, select 3 dots icon > Invite new users and set the following user details and permissions:
    • Email address = apps@vhx.tv
    • Set access expiry date box should be unchecked
    • Click the Account Permissions tab and check the Admin (all permissions) box
  4. Select Invite user, then Send invite.

Once you finish inviting apps@vhx.tv to your Google Play developer account, follow the steps below to invite our Support team:

  1. Select options icon (•••), then Invite new users and set the following user details and permissions:
    • Email address = cs-ott-apps@vimeo.com
    • Set access expiry date box should be unchecked
  2. Click the Account Permissions tab and check the following four permissions:
      • View app information and download bulk reports (read-only)
      • View app quality information (read-only)
      • Manage orders and subscriptions
      • Reply to reviews
  3. Select Invite user, then Send invite.

Add a physical address

If you will be offering in-app subscriptions, then you will need to enter the mailing address for your business in the Account Details section of the Google Play Developer Console.

  1. Go to your Developer Console and click on Developer Page.
  2. Add your address to the Physical Address field.
  3. Select Save.

Add a Vimeo Service Account

You will need to create credentials so that Vimeo can automatically publish and update your app. To do so:

  1. While logged in to your Google Play developer account, navigate to Google's Cloud dashboard.
  2. Within this new dashboard, you should see values listed against the fields indicated in the blue box below, which identify your Google Play enrollment.
  3. Select the IAM & Admin option under the "Quick Access" dashboard icons.
  4. Within the left-side menu, select Service Accounts.
  5. Select + Create Service Account in the top bar.
  6. On the next screen, input the Service account name as "vhx." Skip the Service account description field and select Create.
  7. In the Grant this service account access to project step, select the role Project, then Owner.
  8. Skip Step 3 and select Done.
  9. Your newly created service account should now be listed on the Service Accounts page. Select the checkbox next to the newly listed vhx-[XXXXX....] key. From there, select the more options icon (•••), then choose Manage Keys.
  10. On the next screen, select Add Key, then Create New Key.
    • Ensure the JSON option is selected. Then, select Create.
    • A JSON file will be downloaded onto your computer. You can then choose Close. You must email this JSON file to your Account / Implementation Manager.
    • Keep the Google Cloud console open to make the next steps easier.

Now that you have successfully created your Google service account, you need to grant it "Admin" permissions. To do so:

  1. Navigate back to your Google Play developer console in a separate browser tab.
  2. Select the Users and Permissions option within your Google Play developer account.
  3. On this page, select the more options (•••) icon on the right side of the page, then select Invite new users.
  4. On the Invite user screen:
    1. Email address = Input the email address that was created when generating your service account. (This is why we recommend leaving the Google Cloud console open in a separate browser tab.)
      • As a reminder, it will be listed as "vhx-[XXXXX.....]" within the Google Cloud console. Your service account may not exactly mimic the formatting of the below screenshot but it will be comparable.
    2. Leave the Set access expiry date unchecked.
    3. Under Account permissions, ensure the Admin (all permissions) box is checked.
    4. Select Invite User > Send invite

Ensure the Google Publishing API is Enabled

Now that you've successfully created a Google Service Account, we need to ensure your Google Cloud Project has proper permissions. There is a chance that this step is automatically completed for you. If so, feel free to skip down to the Enroll in Google Payments Center section after confirming the configuration below.

  1. Navigate back to Google's Cloud dashboard.
    • You should still be logged in to the Cloud dashboard as the Account Owner from the steps above.
  2. In the drop-down menu in the top-left, ensure that your recently created OTT project is selected. This is what you would have created when establishing your Google Play developer account.
  3. When you have your project selected, choose the Cloud overview menu option.
  4. From there, select APIs & Services.
    • You may need to scroll down this menu and select More Products if you don't see the option straight away.
  5. Select Enabled APIs & Services from the left-side navigation menu.
  6. Select + Enable APIs and Services.
  7. In the search bar that appears, type in "Google Play Android Developer" and select the Google Play Android Developer API option that appears.
  8. Lastly, select Enable.

 

Enroll in Google Payments Center

These steps are only for apps with paid subscriptions. If your content is free, this step is not required.

If you will be offering paid subscriptions within your app, then you will need to enroll in the Google Payments Merchant Center. Here you'll connect your bank account. This cannot be changed once it is set up.

  1. Open your Developer Console > Setup > Payments profile.
  2. Click on Create payments profile.
  3. Fill out the form entirely with the required information.
    • The “Customer Service Email” field is required. You may use “ottsupport@vimeo.com” or your own.
    • All the apps will point to ottsupport@vimeo.com.
    • Be sure to use a recognizable name for “Credit Card Statement Name” - something that matches the name of your app so your customers won’t be confused when they get their credit card statements.
  4. Insert your D-U-N-S number
  5. Select Submit. 

⚠️Note: Vimeo will not be able to see this section due to security and privacy reasons. Be sure to confirm with our onboarding team once you are done with the setup process for the Google Payments Center. 

 

Once you’re done with all of the above steps discussed in this article, you’re all set. Vimeo will now have access to your developer account and have what we need to build + submit your Android Apps.

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