BidSwitch and app-ads.txt¶
app-ads.txt is an initiative to replicate ads.txt’s success at verifying approved sellers of inventory. Using it, app publishers can list their authorized digital Suppliers and Buyers can ensure that they only buy in-app inventory from them.
As part of supporting this, BidSwitch offers a cross-store app-ads.txt
information
mapping service, which combines the information from the Apple and Google app stores
into a unified search index containing all of the relevant information to implement
app-ads.txt
validation as part of real-time bidding.
Mapping Service Overview¶
BidSwitch obtains a complete list of all active applications, in both the Apple app store and the Google Play app store.
Each individual App on this list will be crawled regularly to update/validate their
app-ads.txt
information. As part of this, BidSwitch augments the list with each app’s bundle ID, app name, store URL, and Developer Domain.If possible, BidSwitch will merge the two App store records into one. The merge only occurs if the application’s records have an exact, case sensitive, match in both the
app_name
anddev_url
fieldsBidSwitch makes this mapping information available in JSON format, here: https://appadstxt.bidswitch.com/apps.json
Example File Format
{
"app_count":4,
"apps":[
{
"dev_url":"https://www.rovio.com/",
"app_name":"Angry Birds Classic",
"google_play":{
"bundle":"com.rovio.angrybirds",
"store_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rovio.angrybirds&hl=en"
},
"iTunes":{
"bundle":"343200656",
"store_url":"https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ab-classic/id343200656"
}
},
{
"dev_url":"https://king.com",
"app_name":"Candy Crush Saga",
"google_play":{
"bundle":"com.king.candycrushsaga",
"store_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.candycrushsaga"
}
},
{
"dev_url":"www.gameloft.com",
"app_name":"MY LITTLE PONY: MAGIC PRINCESS",
"iTunes":{
"bundle":"533173905",
"store_url":"http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id533173905"
}
},
{
"dev_url":"www.gameloft.com",
"app_name":"MY LITTLE PONY: Magic Princess",
"google_play":{
"bundle":"com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftPOHM",
"store_url":"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gameloft.android.ANMP.GloftPOHM"
}
}
]
}