New Delhi, July 19 (UNI) Google on Tuesday said it will reduce the Play Store service fee for non-gaming app developers in the European Union by 3 percent to 12 percent from the current 15 percent if they use rival payment systems. Google said it will not remove, or reject updates of, non-gaming apps from participating developers for offering alternative billing systems for European users.
“We expect to expand bill- ing alternatives to developers of gaming apps for their users in the European Economic Area (EEA), in advance of the Digital Markets Act’s (DMA) effective date,” said Estelle Werth, Director, EU Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google. This means that developers of non-gaming apps can offer their users in Europe an alternative to Google Play’s billing system when they are paying for digital content and services.
The Digital Markets Act will require Google Play and other industry players to adjust their current operating model for users in the EEA.
Google said that since 99 percent of developers currently qualify for a service fee of 15 percent or less, “those developers would pay a service fee of 12 percent or lower based on transactions through alternative billing for EEA users acquired through the Play platform”.Google Play’s billing system will continue to be required for apps and games distributed via Play to users outside the EEA, and for games distributed to users within the EEA. “Although the DMA does not take effect for some time, we are launch- ing this program now to allow us to work closely with our developer partners and ensure our compliance plans serve the needs of our shared users and the broader eco-system, Google said. In India, Google has decided to defer the implementation of its app payment policies.
