Google allowing Play Store apps to use own payment systems

[Hanno Labuschagne]

Google allowing Play Store apps to use own payment systems

Alphabet Inc.’s Google will begin letting some apps bill users directly as an alternative to paying through Google, a concession amid mounting antitrust concerns over app store fees.

The new system, which Google is framing as an experiment, starts with streaming giant Spotify Technology SA.

If a user chooses to pay Spotify directly instead of using Google’s billing system, Spotify won’t have to give Google its entire 15% fee, according to a person familiar with the matter.

[Bloomberg]

 

[deweyzeph]

I use Spotify, Netflix, Showmax, DSTV Now on Android, and for all of those services I pay those companies directly, and have done for years.

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

now if apple could join in the fun, maybe we make these tech companies a bit less richer

 

[backstreetboy]

I use Spotify, Netflix, Showmax, DSTV Now on Android, and for all of those services I pay those companies directly, and have done for years.

What about apps? I had to install the Fdroid version of FairEmail to pay the developer directly. Moving back to the play store version I'll have to pay again to get the Pro features.

 

[Johnatan56]

now if apple could join in the fun, maybe we make these tech companies a bit less richer

Technically Apple already has, just that the fee is still so high its not economical to do so vs using apples own service.

(Netherlands dating app case I think it was).

 

[Jet-Fighter7700]

Technically Apple already has, just that the fee is still so high its not economical to do so vs using apples own service.

(Netherlands dating app case I think it was).

dammed if you do, dammed if you dont.

so whats stopping devs from insisting on BTC or crypto payments?
no way Apple or Google can charge fees on those.

 

[deweyzeph]

What about apps? I had to install the Fdroid version of FairEmail to pay the developer directly. Moving back to the play store version I'll have to pay again to get the Pro features.

My point is that Netflix, Showmax, etc all already allow you to pay them outside of Google Play.

 

[Vorastra]

Which is what Epic Games wanted.