Hours after the launch of Kongregate's latest venture on Android – the debut of its 300 free Flash-based games strong Arcade app – the firm was making headlines the world over.

Out of the blue, Google scrubbed Kongregate Arcade from Android Market, claiming that the app violated its terms of service policy.

Open all hours

Speculation has since suggested that Google might have been motivated by concerns Kongregate Arcade could impact on its own growing ambitions in Android's gaming space.

Either way, the move directly threatened Kongregate's plans to push Android as a gaming platform, with CEO Jim Greer claiming Android offers an immediate opportunity for Flash-based developers.

The beauty of Android, however, is that Google's marketplace is not the only route to consumers.

As with scores of other apps in recent months, Kongregate is set to list the app for download on independent app store GetJar, enabling it to reach millions of consumers without having to gp via official channels.

It's also available via the Kongregate and Gamespot websites. 

Marketplace muddle

Rovio's Angry Birds is probably the most successful of GetJar exponents on Android, having clocked up downloads in the region of 7 million within little over a month of its launch.

Other publishers too, however, have chosen to give Android Market a wide birth.

Gameloft recently went on record to explain why it has chosen to sell its wares via its own marketplace for the platform – the inability to release apps targeted at specific handsets the main reason - while interest is also perked in Amazon's Android Appstore, its launch expected later this year.

Collectively, it begs the question as to how relevant Android Market will continue to be?

[source: mocoNews]