-
Type:
Suggestion
-
Resolution: Won't Do
-
None
-
Component/s: Installation/Update
-
None
Currently the only (official) way to retrieve the HipChat client for Android is to use Google Play.
However there are many reasons why people can't or don't want to use the Google app store.
Besides political reasons Googles services are not Open Source and are (officially) only available for licensed Android builds. Some devices don't come with preinstalled Google services at all.
Also many other Android apps (like Threema, WhatsApp and Firefox) are available as official apk download.