Google is allowing developers to select their billing systems for apps on Google Play, starting March 29, initially for non-game developers and UK consumers, with implementation in other markets. While developers can offer alternative billing methods, they cannot fully replace Google Play’s billing system. This change helps developers avoid up to 30% transaction fees charged by Google. The decision comes after a 2022 investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, which found potential antitrust issues with Google and Apple restricting third-party billing options. Following this, Google agreed to introduce an alternative, leading to the closure of the probe.
Google has revealed that it will finally permit developers to select their preferred billing system for applications distributed through Google Play. This change impacts consumers in the UK, but it has also been rolled out in other regions.
Currently, the new billing option is exclusively available for non-game developers, set to launch on March 29. Developers who choose to participate can provide their users with an alternative billing method, though they cannot completely replace Google Play’s existing billing system.
If users opt for this alternative billing method, developers could save on transaction fees, bypassing the up to 30% charges that Google typically imposes.
However, this isn’t merely a voluntary option. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK initiated an investigation into Google and Apple back in 2022, concluding that the two major companies may have been engaging in antitrust practices by restricting users’ and developers’ options regarding third-party billing systems.
In response, Google agreed to provide an alternative to its billing system, leading to the conclusion of the investigation. This agreement is why we are now witnessing this change.
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