I think that strategy of resubmitting the app may work - if the old app users are redirected to the new app - it is then possible that there maybe mass exodus from old app to new one.
I think David’s fake iphone5 may be an example of that - i.e. fake iphone4 going to fake iphone5 app.
And I have seen that in earlier car racing games and other examples - where they release say “Asphalt” and then “Asphalt 2”. Maybe other reasons for that (want to charge more or whatever or split users so older app is still runnable while newer one may not be on old phones or some such stuff. But after seeing Google Play one month stuff at work, I would not be surprised if getting another month of promotion was an extra reason for that.
One can easily setup a notification system (well there is google notifications etc.) - but can do that on next app startup basically you flip a flag on AppBrain Remote Settings - and the app can then show a different dialog box that “check our update” or whatever.
As discussed here before (in another thread I think) - this maybe a way to leverage Google Play’s one-month of promotion for new apps.
So in summary:
Make an app - slowly rise to some level of popularity - benefit from the first month of Google Play promotion where they try to make you rise up in rankings (perhaps to see where you will “stick”). Help this popularity with social networks - twitter/facebook whatever. And make webpages etc. to go with your app - will make for better google rank perhaps - so get better results from general search engines etc.
After the first month has elapsed you will notice a sudden decline in popularity as Google starts to let you slide down.
After that there maybe some resurgence (maybe some secondary Google algorithm in operation ?) where your app may start to again get some traction.
Watch appannie.com for rankings for your category - can watch by country - can tune translations etc. to see if that helps for some countries. Eventually may get tired of all that effort, but some countries maybe esp. ok for translation like arabic speaking ones etc. - most europeans maybe ok with english (esp. if your subject matter is related to something they search for in english maybe).
Then make a new app. Release that.
In the old app - release a version which allows you to flip a switch at AppBrain Remote Settings - have that then announce to existing users in the old app that hey move over to new one.
Now for this you will need the new app to have some slightly interesting features (i.e. more than just a usual upgrade). So maybe better to time it to a major upgrade.
Anyway that is what it looks like on paper.
I was considering it - and it maybe an option if the app has dropped down in rankings hugely.
But if the old apps gets a second wind (after being dropped after first month) then there maybe some value to keeping on with it also - esp. if it has started to regain in the google rankings - say if it is a live wallpaper and is starting to appear in the top 50 results or whatever.
I suspect the new app route MAY help in getting the raw download numbers high - i.e. you use the old users to ratched up the daily downloads - which may get noticed by Google and it raises you in the rankings (i.e. “trending” etc.). If all old users transfer to new app - then I guess you don’t lose much.
But after the first month for the new app - you are again in the same situation.
So perhaps it may work for a couple of times - but eventually may get tired - and may want the app to have a steady location.
Bottom line is the app has to have some value to the user - can’t just keep doing this with an app that doesn’t do anything.
Secondly it is important to remember that for phone apps, the concept of what is useful for user maybe very different from a serious and plodding developer.
That is, often times the developer may do something very big but that effort maybe beaten by some really simple app - so the developer should have it clear in their mind why they are making the app - for their own joy or for it being commercial - and if commercial then they have to consider the time spent and the rewards/payback.
For that reason they may consider doing something very simple first.
Also there is something very real about the whole phone user thing - i.e. it is not a negative that phone users require shitty apps or something - but that the whole medium/format of the platform may REQUIRE a certain type of app i.e. as many webpages/articles have mentioned i.e. for phone users there maybe a certain type of app - which fits into the “sitting at the dentist’s office” type of small time chunks - or if is a game perhaps is splittable into time chunks - so user can resume where was etc. …
So there is this aspect to consider.
Though others have pointed out that for tablets - the market maybe slightly different - with bigger games etc. maybe winding up dominating … (!?).