Alphabet Inc’s Google has extended the timeline for applications in alternative payment systems to meet its gaming billing system until March 31, 2022, it said in a blog post Monday. Google had postponed applying a 30% commission on in-app purchases of digital products from its Play Store in India until April 2022 amid growing protests from Indian developers.
This is what Google India said:
Listening carefully to the comments of developers and users is essential to continue improving Android with each launch and improve the operation of the Play Store. Since we posted a clarification on our Google Play payment policy, we have heard some additional questions from the community in India. Next, we wanted to clearly address and respond to the issues we have heard.
First of all, we want to reiterate that we are deeply committed to the success of the Indian ecosystem; We don’t make it unless our partners make it. Taking into account local needs and concerns, we have taken the following immediate steps:
We are organizing listening sessions with leading Indian startups to understand their concerns in greater depth;
We will set up policy workshops to help clarify any additional questions about our Play Store policies;
And we are also extending the time for Indian developers to integrate with Play billing system, to make sure they have enough time to implement UPI for subscription payment option which will be available on Google Play, for all applications that currently use an alternative payment system we set a schedule of March 31, 2022.
Also, we would like to provide more clarity on the three recurring themes that we have heard from the Indian community:
If it is a new policy and to whom it applies;
The forms of payment that the Google Play billing system supports;
Support for choosing app stores on Android.
Last week, we clarified the language of our Google Play Payment Policy in response to comments from developers that the policy language could be clearer regarding what types of transactions require the use of Google’s billing system. Play. Our payment policy is not new, it is our global business model and policy, and we have always required developers who distribute their apps on Play to use the Google Play billing system if they offer in-app purchases of digital products. In fact, more than 97% of developers with apps on Google Play already comply with the policy.
To be clear, the policy only applies if a developer charges users to download their app or sells in-app digital items, which is less than 3% of developers with apps on Google Play. You can find more details on our Payment Policy page and we’ve also published a Developer FAQ section that answers many of the top developer questions.
There has also been some confusion that Google Play billing is itself a form of payment. Google Play billing is a billing system that supports many forms of payment for consumers; Today, Play billing supports more than 290 forms of payment worldwide. In recent years, we have added more local payment methods in India including credit and debit cards, netbanking, carrier billing, gift cards and all supported UPI applications. And we will continue to interact with developers and consumers to add additional payment methods.
Keep in mind that the Google Play billing system is not just about offering multiple forms of payment, it helps ensure a great shopping experience for Google Play users. Provides clear information on price, what is being purchased, and key underwriting information, such as when a charge will be incurred and if a charge is recurring. It also includes post-purchase experiences, including reminders about when free trials end, and is a one-stop-shop for managing your subscription on Google Play, including cancellations and refunds.
In short, our billing system provides a simple and secure way for consumers to transact, and we have seen that this simplicity and security is critical to the growth of developers’ businesses within Google Play.
Finally, we have always said that developers should be able to choose how to distribute their applications and that stores should compete for the business of consumers and developers. Android is open and choice is a fundamental principle of the operating system. This is why users have always been able to get apps from multiple app stores and why they have always had control over which apps they use, be it their keyboard, messaging app, phone dialer, or app store. In fact, most Android devices ship with at least two app stores pre-installed and consumers can install additional app stores.
We consider it extremely important to understand concerns across the ecosystem, and these listening sessions over the next several weeks will help us find comprehensive solutions that work for everyone. When a developer is successful on the Play Store, we consider it our biggest victory. We at Google have always had a long and deep engagement with India, and working together with startups and developers has given us a more meaningful understanding of how technology can be more useful. That is why we remain committed to engaging the community, to listening and finding the right ways to help the Indian ecosystem grow and prosper.
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