Google, Complying With Regulatory Order, Supports Third-Party Billing in India (techcrunch.com) 3
Google has started to support a third-party billing system for Google Play Store purchases in India as the Android-maker begins complying with the local regulatory directions in the key overseas market. From a report: Google said in a support page Thursday that it is offering "all developers" serving users in India the option to use an alternative billing system and outlined the steps developers need to follow to avail the option. The change is in "response to recent regulatory developments" in the South Asian market, the company said.
If a user pays through an alternative billing system, Google's Play service fee will be reduced by 4%, the company said. Google was slapped with a $161 million fine by the Competition Commission of India last year and was ordered to make a series of stringent changes to its business practices in the country. While Google continues to challenge the decision, it said last month that it will comply with the order.
If a user pays through an alternative billing system, Google's Play service fee will be reduced by 4%, the company said. Google was slapped with a $161 million fine by the Competition Commission of India last year and was ordered to make a series of stringent changes to its business practices in the country. While Google continues to challenge the decision, it said last month that it will comply with the order.
They still have to pay a service fee (Score:3)
That is the important thing there.. The whole point of developers wanting an alternative billing system was to try and Not have to pay Google a cut of every transaction. But under the Altered terms: not only are developers still required to, but they are required to report every single payment to Google -- Manually, for the time being. This means it is going to be more expensive than to just use Google's system.
Re: They still have to pay a service fee (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
Well, maybe. It mainly just reminds that the whole business model for Google bringing the Android OS to market in the first place is basically to earn from developers' service revenue by Licensing and leasing access based on the sales and customer revenue of each app; Not selling or giving away the tooling to build software on their platform for 'free', And if they're forced to allow alternative billing processes, Then they are going to adjust their terms at the same time to make sure Google still