Google Update: More than 10 Indian apps are removed from Google Play Store due to their noncompliance with the in-app billing policy. This Is What Occurred
Google Update
Google Update: This approach is consistent with Google’s initiative to eliminate Indian apps that have violated its app payment guidelines for a “prolonged duration of time.”
The job site Naukri(dot)com, owned by Info Edge, and its real estate company 99acres have been removed from the Google Play store. Both of the apps were not available in the Google Play store at the time of publishing. Jeevansathi, the company’s matrimonial app, is still accessible on the Play Store, nevertheless. Info Edge attested to the fact that these apps have been removed from the platform. According to the company, Naukri Recruiter, 99acres, Shiksha, and the company’s flagship app Naukri have all been removed by Google.
Google Update: Info Edge informed MoneyControl that since Google removed the apps without providing adequate notice, the removal was unexpected. In order to make sure that the company’s mobile applications are restored as quickly as possible on the Google Play store, the company is currently examining and assessing the next course of action while collaborating with Google in this respect.
Google has been taking action against Indian app developers who, according to the tech giant, have been violating its app charging policy for a “extended period of time.” This is part of Google’s effort to get rid of those apps.
Other Apps That Have Been Taken Down
Google Update: As of March 1, the following apps have been removed from the Play Store: social networking app FRND; dating apps Truly Madly and Quack Quack; audio content platform Kuku FM; marriage firms marriage and Shaadi.com; streaming platforms Altt, Aha, and Stage.
Info Edge’s 99acres and Naukri were likewise taken off from the Google Play market later that day.
Google Update: These businesses have one thing in common: they were petitioners in a Supreme Court lawsuit challenging Google’s app billing practices.
“After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court’s order,” Google stated in a blog post explaining the rationale for this action. “We are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem.”
What Is CCI’s Anti-Trust Order Against Google?
Google Update: Google’s payment regulations for Android apps, which are applicable to the sale of all digital products and services supplied via the in-app billing system and initially forced all developers to use only GPBS, are at the center of this whole thing. Developers that use GPBS must pay Google a service fee of 15% on the first $1 million in income they create and 30% on each additional revenue beyond $1 million. “Automatically renewing subscription products” still have a 15% service charge.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) declared this technique to be anticompetitive in October 2022 after it generated a lot of excitement in the Indian startup environment. Following this directive from the CCI, Google began to permit Indian developers to provide substitute billing solutions. The developers that made this decision saw a 4% decrease in their service to Google.
Google Update: Google has provided developers with three ways to appear to be in compliance with the policy. Developers can choose to “operate on a consumption-only basis without paying a service fee,” establish an alternative payment system, or use GPBS. For two key reasons, though, Indian app developers were not happy with this. The first reason is that they felt it was unfair that they had to pay Google an 11% or a 26% cost even though they had chosen an alternate billing system. They think that this is against the directive of the CCI, which is the second reason.
Google has provided developers with three ways to appear to be in compliance with the policy. Developers can choose to “operate on a consumption-only basis without paying a service fee,” establish an alternative payment system, or use GPBS. For two key reasons, though, Indian app developers were not happy with this. The first reason is that they felt it was unfair that they had to pay Google an 11% or a 26% cost even though they had chosen an alternate billing system. They think that this is against the directive of the CCI, which is the second reason.
Supreme Court To Hear Plea
The Supreme Court of India declined to provide a temporary injunction earlier in February, preventing online businesses like Shaadi.com and Matrimony.com from being taken down from Google Play Store on February 9.
Google Update: This facilitated Google’s decision to delist these and remove them from the Play Store. On March 19, the supreme court is anticipated to hear arguments from entrepreneurs contesting Google’s app pricing scheme.
