Google said Monday it plans to start enforcing a rule requiring Android apps in its Play store to use its payment system, which takes a 30 per cent cut of transactions.
“We have clarified the language in our payments policy to be more explicit that all developers selling digital goods in their apps are required to use Google Play’s billing system,” product management vice president Sameer Samat said in a blog post.
People with smartphones or tablets powered by Google-backed Android software are free to get apps from online venues other than the Play Store run by the internet giant.
Google has always required apps offered on the Play Store’s virtual shelves to use its payment system, which takes an industry-standard 30 per cent commission – the same as Apple does in its App Store for iOS-powered mobile devices.
Unlike Apple, however, Google has been lax about enforcing the rule.Google said the policy applies to fewer than three per cent of developers with apps in the Play Store.
“We only collect a service fee if the developer charges users to download their app or they sell in-app digital items, and we think that is fair,” Samat said.Changes coming to the next version of Android,...
