A big update that Google has revealed for Android might drastically affect how apps are deployed on the platform. The business will mandate that verified developers register all apps on certified Android devices beginning in September 2026. Users will no longer be able to sideload programs from unidentified or unconfirmed sources as a result.
Google claims that this action is intended to improve security and lower the possibility of malware, which is frequently distributed by hackers using APKs.
Why Google Is Blocking Unverified APKs?
The goal of the new regulation, according to Google, is “improving Android’s security to keep it open and safe.” The business contends that requiring developers to authenticate themselves will provide the ecosystem a crucial new level of accountability.
Additionally, by making it more difficult for criminals to disseminate dangerous programmes anonymously, the policy would shield users from financial fraud, frauds, and other threats. Notably, Google has stated that it would not be limiting the origin of apps or examining their actual content as a result of this new identity verification requirement.
How the New APK Verification Policy Works?
According to Android Authority, the emphasis is instead on verifying the developer’s identity, similar to an ID check. To put it briefly, Google’s new policy will make it much more difficult for dishonest developers to conceal themselves behind fictitious names or disposable accounts, but it won’t completely eradicate malware.
What Developers Must Do to Get Verified?
Google explains how the new policy will work, stating that developers who distribute Android apps—whether independently or through the Play Store—will have to go through a certification procedure. There will be two primary steps involved: Developers must supply personal information, including their legal name, address, phone number, and email address, in order to verify their identification.
Along with a government ID for individuals, organisations would also need to present their official website and D-U-N-S number. When registering apps, developers will also need to provide package names and app signing keys as proof of ownership.
According to Google, a large portion of this procedure is already finished for developers who have previously published their apps on the Play Store, and the apps will be registered automatically. To handle verification, a new Android Developer Console will be made available to developers that distribute apps outside of the Play Store. In response to privacy-conscious hobbyist developers, Google has promised that the personal data gathered during this procedure would not be disclosed.
Timeline for Global Rollout of APK Restrictions
In October 2025, invited developers will be able to obtain early access. Google plans to make verification accessible to all developers worldwide by March 2026. The modifications will take effect in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand in September 2026. Apps on approved devices in these markets now have to be developed by verified developers. By 2027 and beyond, the global deployment will continue to other regions.
Quick
Shots
•From Sept 2026, Google will block
unverified Android APKs on certified devices.
•Move aims to reduce malware, fraud,
and scams spread via shady APKs.
•Policy verifies who publishes apps,
not the apps’ content itself.
In response to an ongoing antitrust investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into the tech giant’s alleged abuse of dominance in the real-money gaming (RMG) ecosystem, Google has recommended adjustments to its Play Store and advertising standards for a greater number of RMG apps in India.
CCI Antitrust Probe Sparked by WinZO Complaint
The Delhi-based RMG platform Winzo filed a complaint that prompted the CCI to begin its antitrust investigation in November 2024. Regarding Google’s commitment application, the CCI had requested feedback from stakeholders regarding the purported exclusion of specific RMG apps from Google Play and the selective onboarding of rummy and daily fantasy sports apps, which distorted the competitive environment.
Google’s New Policy: Replace Pilot with Self-Declared Legal Compliance
Google suggested in its application to replace the present “pilot program” by permitting the distribution of all RMGs on Google Play in India, which creators have self-declared to be legal online real-money games in accordance with relevant legislation.
In order to establish that their application is legally permissible, the application stated that developers must submit evidence that the application is in good standing with a reputable and authoritative third-party body that has demonstrated to Google’s reasonable satisfaction that it meets specific criteria and has been recognised as acceptable in Google’s policies.
Advertising Rules to Loosen for Games of Skill
Additionally, the company stated that it will amend its advertising guidelines to permit advertisements for “games of skill” in India, provided that creators provide third-party certification confirming that the games are neither gambling apps nor “games of chance.” Google restricted the Play Store hosting of apps in the daily fantasy sports (DFS) and rummy categories as part of an experimental program that began in 2022.
These two types of RMG apps are still available in the app store, even though the trial was only meant to run for a year. A WinZO representative commented on the CCI’s investigation, saying WinZO is appreciative of the CCI’s ongoing dedication to promoting an equitable, transparent, and prosperous digital economy.
WinZO’s Case Against Google: Monopoly or Market Gatekeeper?
Google suspended its plans to expand and permit the listing of new types of RMGs on the Play Store in India and globally more than a year ago, attributing the decision to the absence of a central licensing framework and the challenges associated with creating a suitable monetisation model.
In June of last year, the IT giant originally intended to introduce its extended RMG support to developers for their consumers in Brazil, Mexico, and India.
After that, WinZO filed a complaint in November, claiming that Google’s regulations unjustly hurt RMG apps and abused its dominating position in the app store and digital advertising sectors. WinZO also cited modifications to Google Ads guidelines that limit advertising to DFS and Rummy apps solely.
Why India Is Crucial for the Global RMG Ecosystem?
It contended that this limits the reach and expansion prospects of other gaming platforms by denying them access to a significant advertising channel. Nearly 20% of the world’s gamers reside in India, which also invented microtransaction-driven business models that currently generate over 85% of online gaming profits, according to the spokesperson.
The Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) antitrust verdict against Google over its Play Store policy was partially supported by the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal’s (NCLAT) March ruling, which Google has challenged in the Supreme Court. “We have appealed the NCLAT’s recent ruling regarding the order from the CCI.
“We’re still dedicated to helping the Indian app market expand for developers and users alike,” a Google representative told Moneycontrol. The NCLAT’s March ruling maintained a number of the CCI’s order’s main conclusions, although it lowered Google’s fine from INR 936.44 crore to INR 216.69 crore.
Background: CCI’s Investigation Into Play Store Billing
CCI opened an investigation into Google in November 2020 in response to complaints about the company’s requirement that in-app purchases and paid apps use the Play Store payment system. Developers were compelled by this scheme to pay a commission, typically 15–30%, and use Google’s own payment mechanism. Google was found guilty of abusing its Play Store dominance.
Key Findings of CCI and NCLAT
The watchdog also ordered the company to modify its app payment system and issued a cease-and-desist injunction in addition to the monetary penalty. The NCLAT confirmed CCI’s conclusion in its March 2025 ruling that Google forced app developers to adopt the Google Play Billing System (GPBS) for in-app purchases and paid app sales, thereby imposing unfair and discriminatory conditions on them.
It also concurred with CCI’s finding that Google promoted its own payment app, Google Pay, over other UPI-based digital payment apps by abusing its control over the Android and Play Store ecosystems.
Implications for Developers and Digital Payments
In a March 2025 ruling, the appellate tribunal overturned the watchdog’s rulings limiting innovation and denying market access. It highlighted Google billing services having less than 1% of the UPI market share and the lack of proof of restrictions on technical advancement as justifications for rescinding the specific instruction.
Remarkably, the NCLAT subsequently allegedly reversed a number of “ex-ante” (preventive) directives that the CCI had given Google, claiming that the order went beyond the CCI’s authority under the existing regulatory structure.
Two months later, on May 1, the NCLAT reinstituted two directives that mandate Google to reveal its data rules and refrain from using its billing data to gain an unfair competitive edge. Dissatisfied with the appellate tribunal’s partial relief and the clarification’s subsequent setback, Google has now petitioned the SC to contest the order and wants a favourable ruling.
Google is one of the most acclaimed multinational conglomerates in the world, as it runs multiple businesses under a single brand. Its most successful business sector is Google Play which was also known as Android Market, the platform is one of the top digital distribution services and is a brainchild of Google.
Google play was initially launched in October 2008 and then re-launched in March 2012 after combining the Android market and Google together. Google Play is the official app store for every device that runs on an android operating system. The platform allows users to search and download apps that are designed and developed for android devices.
It also acts as a digital media store that offers music, e-books, movies, and TV programs. The apps can be downloaded directly from Google play, while the platform allows its app developers to make apps that are free and charge a fee. The platform had over 82 billion app downloads just in 2016 and had over 3.5 million Android applications available in 2017.
With the rise of the Internet, one organization that has remained constant and improving from the very beginning is Google. It has managed to do what most people would say is impossible. It did the exact same thing that its slogan says and in every case, better than that. They proudly say that their mission is to “Organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. Simple it may sound but it is a herculean task.
The Google story begins in 1995 at Stanford University. Larry Page was considering Stanford for grad school and Sergey Brin, a student there, was assigned to show him around. Little did they know that they would lead the information revolution afterward. Google (of course) outgrew the garage and they eventually had to move to its current headquarters (also known as ‘The Googleplex’) in Mountain View, California.
As Google grew, they began hiring more and more and made the company truly big in every sense. They launched Google Play Store, Drive, and all of Google suite with one Email ID. So, with one ID people could use all of Google, be it Document creating and editing, spreadsheet updating, and sharing, or anything over the internet.
What is Google Play Store?
Google play store is one megastore in your smartphone. We mean it quite literally. Google play store is a subsidiary of a service that is provided by Google to its android users. The store can be accessed instantly if you have an android device, in fact, it comes pre-installed on every new smartphone. It is important to note here that there are more than 2.8 billion android users in the world as of now. This is a huge number and Google caters to them all.
Google play store is a marketplace for Apps, Music, Movies, Books, TV Shows and many more. It is a single place you need to get almost all the work done that you want from your device. Be it work-related apps, professional suites or any sort of craving for entertainment, you will find it all on the Google play store.
Google play store strives to create an environment that a user wants, it does it so well. Not only this, but apart from being a perfect yet simple place for users, it also helps developers get the right audience for their work.
What are the Services Provided by Google Play?
Some of the main services that Google Play offers are:
Google Play Games
Google play games were launched in 2013, and since then it has been an online gaming service for Android devices.
Google Playbooks
Google playbooks are one of the leading e-book distribution services as it is available in 75 countries. It currently has more than five million eBooks available for purchase and offers the user an option of uploading over 1000 of their own eBooks in the form of PDFs.
Google TV
This is the Video-on-demand platform of Google that offers a wide range of movies and TV shows that can be purchased or rented. The platform was earlier known as Google Play Movies & TV and has its movies available in 110 countries while its TV shows are available only in a select few countries.
Google Play Pass
This platform was launched in 2019 and is a games and app subscriptions services that are available only in America. Google Play Pass is invitation-only for app developers.
Google Play Music
This app allows its user to listen to and download music. Currently, the app has over 15 million subscribers.
According to Google Play, the app developers receive over 70% of the app price, while the other 30% goes to Google Play as they are the distribution partner and as a part of operating fees. The platform also allows the developers to make sales on their app, on the basis that it informs its users when the sale ends. The application developers can also release an early version of their app to a certain group of users or even allow their users to pre-order the apps before they are released.
For regular subscription-based payments, it charges 30% for the first-year subscription consumer pays and then the app developers can continue paying15% for all subsequent years. This model is similar to the business model of another app store like the Apple app store. Where the app developers pay some money to the app store in order to hoist their app and get the remaining amount of money from their user purchases.
A Google Play advertisement
How does Google Play Make Money?
There are two main ways Google Play makes money
Advertisements
Google allows its users to promote apps on its platform by using certain keywords that are shortlisted by app developers. So when a user is searching for a certain keyword they can get your app listed on the top.
Service Fee
The revenue source of the Google play store is simple and it is primarily a Service fee from developers.
If a developer wants to sell an app on the Google play store then Google asks for a Service fee from the developer. Quite anything or service that developers would want to sell, can be a subscription service too. However, any in-app purchase is not commissioned by Google.
Google Play Store Fee
Google also takes a 30% cut of the revenue made on an android app from the developers.
This should be quite clear by now that Google only earns money when developers charge something from the customers. So, the revenue model works only when developers are making money. This creates a hit and takes effect on the whole relationship. This also ensures that both parties are putting efforts to be more efficient and convenient.
How much does Google Play Make?
On 30th August 2021, the platform disclosed the revenue of the platform for the first in 13 years. According to the declassified documents of the Google play store, the total revenue of the platform is over $11.2 billion (Rs. 82,000 crores) in 2019. This amount is said to include the price of the app (which it charges 30% of), additional in-app purchases, and revenue generated via advertisements on the Play Store app.
This information was disclosed because of an antitrust lawsuit that was filed against the Google Play store by several districts and states in America claiming that Google Play Store exercises a monopoly over application distribution. Out of the $11.2 billion total revenue, over $8.5 billion is the gross profit of the app, while the operating income of the Google play store is $7 billion.
Google Play Developers Support System
If you are a developer for an app, all you need is an audience for your beautiful creation. Google play does that work for you so that you can focus on more important things for your application. It offers a ready-made market for apps and games. They have a capacity of about a little over 2 billion users monthly. With this huge number of people transacting with Google every month, it is going to be a booming opportunity if you can tap this market.
If you are a developer who wants to distribute an app for free to the globe then you don’t have to pay a single dime. Yes, you read that right, Distribution is fully free for the developers who do not charge for their apps and games.
Moreover, Google also provides full support to each and every developer. Be it on the edge of developer training, user data, and up-to-date information, helping tools, and more. Let me tell you precisely how Google helps developers in various domains, they are,
Distribution
Google play store provides the technical interface to distribute apps made by developers to the world. They have billions of monthly active users. If a developer is able to get his/her app on the Google play store, he/she can get the benefits of a global market. This will jumpstart revenue for them and value creation for its users.
Development and Support
Google provides state-of-the-art facilities to developers. The range of support can start from quality control checks, application testing, and user analytics to its Android studio, play console, and Android software development console. All these supplements allow developers to make their work better and provide better value.
Compliance
Google play store provides a full-fledged ecosystem for a developer’s app. They can categorize, target, and even regulate the market for their apps. This helps them to target the right audience and market, this compliance is a good help for developers who know their work. This ensures proper distribution of their product.
Payments
Developers who make their app accessible after a purchase can totally rely on Google play as a mediator for efficient distribution. Google ensures the utmost security and safety for payments of any sort. They also act as a currency converter for apps that are famous worldwide, like Spotify or Youtube.
All these add-ons make developers make better apps and thus share more of the market. This improves the market as well as the revenue for developers. Thus google play makes the perfect ecosystem for developers to foster their growth. With the right tools handy, developers will do their best work for their users.
Google Play Safety
While Google connects all android users for the love of apps, they do it very securely. With the state-of-the-art infrastructure in the face of security and safety, Google sets new parameters for privacy. Every app in the Google play store is scanned and tested, and only then is added to its app library. They scan more than 100 billion apps every single day to ensure no security leaks. This provides users with enough data for potential threats and trusts for Google.
Google Play Protect
In addition to the everyday checks, every app is put up on the store only after it clears the compliance parameters set by Google experts. They leave no stone unturned.
Some of the parameters that are set by Google are listed here –
Intellectual Property Security
Many applications try to use other apps’ goodwill to generate revenue by deceiving their users. Google has strict standards to avoid such deceiving. They do not permit apps that are similar to other apps in any domain, thus they cannot use other brands to mislead users. This protects the intellectual property rights of genuine apps and services and acts as a wall of protection for brands as well as for users.
Content Restrictions
Google knows very well that the internet is filled with good stuff as well as garbage of all sorts. They do not allow any sort of content that depicts any sort of abuse, harmful products, sexual content, profanity, hate speech and any sort of inappropriate content. This filters the Google play store and makes it accessible to everyone.
Abuse and Deception
As mentioned in the earlier point, Google has hard parameters for all sorts of apps. It does not allow any app that includes deception, abuse, and any malicious information. These kinds of apps misuse the personal data of users and the data can be used for multiple bad intentions. Thus, to prevent this, Google has found a solution. Every app developer has to submit to Google what data the app collects and how the data is used and utilized for app functioning. This makes the developer more accountable on the basis of customer service and privacy.
Application Functionality
The developer has to inform Google about the minimum requirements that are needed to run the app. This is in order to respect the customer user experience that adds to the overall experience of the application. This also reveals spam (if any) on the developer’s side.
Store Listing
All the app developers have to include a crystal clear definition of everything about the app, if they fail to do so and any information is wrongly listed, then Google has all the rights to unlist the app from the store. Any misleading data or promotions can lead to a permanent ban on an app.
Even after all the checks and permits, If a user finds anything wrong with an application then he/she can report complaints. Google has made it very convenient to report abuse across all its services. Developers can also flag some apps that violate their intellectual property rights. This ensures a smooth ecosystem for everyone.
Google Play Store Flag as inappropriate
The Lawsuit against Google Play Store
The case was filed by attorney generals from 37 states and districts of America because they taught that the platform was cutting down the profits of app developers and taking a huge commission on sales. The lawsuit also says that Google is using illicit measures in order to maintain its monopoly. The next trial is expected to be in late 2022.
According to Google, however, this case is nothing but a meritless lawsuit, and said that the data mischaracterizes its business. Google also has another lawsuit filed against it by Epic Games, which is the creator of a popular game known as Fortnite.
Epic Games along with other app developers are separately suing Google because they think that the platform is taking over 30% of the fee for every digital good sold as in-app purchases and generating huge amounts of profits. According to Epic Games, the company came up with a Premier Device Program through which it offered a share of Google Play Earnings to other big companies like LG and Motorola.
Conclusion
We learned that Google is a pioneer in technology and that the Google play store is here to help every user and every developer. Google was changing how people consume information and now is managing every app that you can think of.
Google play store works as a perfect ecosystem for developers and users on all the upfronts, be it security, safety, privacy, and intellectual rights. We learned how the Google play store earns revenues.
Not only this, Google is striving every day to be the better maintainer of almost every device we use. From the Digital well-being feature to the whole entertainment pocket industry. It is no doubt that its innovation leads the technological revolution in the world. Be it on the device on our palms to the satellite outside this earth. Google knows how to make the internet a better and a convenient place for everyone.
FAQs
How does the Google Play store make money?
According to Google Play, the app developers receives over 70% of the app price, while the other 30% goes to Google Play as they are the distribution partner and as a part of operating fees.
Is Google Play profitable?
Yes, Google Play generated $11.2 billion in revenue from its app store in 2019.
What percentage does Google Play take?
Google Play store takes a 30% cut and, 70% goes to the developers.
Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation (ADIF) is a body formed by a group of Indian investors and startup founders. They have joined hands together to set up a new alliance.
This body is also expected to in the creation of sustainable development and growth in the digital economy in the country by interacting with the government and regulators on the policy framework that is required.
The main objective of the Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation is to join together and break the dominance of foreign internet giants like Google.
The body was set up when the Indian startups were dissatisfied and were against the new billing policy of Google. According to the new policy, Google has made it mandatory for Indian developers who use Google Play to pay 30% commission for every in-app purchase.
This had led to a debate in the Indian Technology ecosystem. Several Indian founders have accused Google saying that it was abusing its dominance in the market.
Focus of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation
In a statement from the committee of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation (ADIF), it has said that the association will concentrate and will be committed towards building a technology ecosystem that will be open, fair, neutral, and self-reliant.
Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation (ADIF) as a representative body for the Indian technological startups will also ensure the growth and development of the digital economy of the country.
The body will focus on including all the technology companies and building a sustainable economy for providing solutions in the country that can also be used globally.
Members of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation
The body mainly has individuals who are Indian startup owners or investors. The members of the association include Ajay Data who is the Managing Director of Data Group of Industries, Ritesh Mallik who is the Founder at Innov8 Coworking, Sairee Chahal who is the Founder & CEO of SHEROES, Snehil Khanor who is the Co-founder and CEO of TrulyMadly.
Ajay Data
The body also includes Anand Lunia who is the Founding Partner of India Quotient, Amit Sinha who is the Co-Founder – Unnati. Shailesh Vikram Singh who is the Managing Partner of Massive Fund, Murugavel Janakiraman who is the Founder and CEO of Matrimony.com.
Ajay Data, the Secretary-General of ADIF has said that, ADIF’s main aim is to help the Indian Technological companies in building a sustainable and favorable business environment.
Plans of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation
ADIF has plans to work together with Indian and Global research experts. Their focus is to understand the possibility for the growth of Indian technological startups.
Barriers
They are also focusing on empowering the ecosystem by trying to remove the barriers and difficulties faced by the Indian technological startups at the entry-level. This will help the Indian companies to grow, expand, develop and become self-sustainable.
Membership
ADIF is also planning to open in the top 25 cities in the coming months. They are also focusing on increasing their membership in Tier-I and Tier-II cities. They also plan to cover the rest of the Indian towns.
Policies
The organization is working towards assisting in the creation of policies with the regulators thinking about the future and being able to do business in an easier way. They aim to make India as the top destination for capital and innovation. Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation has said that they would want to become the voice of entrepreneurs in respect to the policymakers and regulators.
Knowledge hub
Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation is expected to create a knowledge hub and a central location in which the resources for building digital products and services will be stored. They expect more than 1,000 members to join their trust.
FAQ
Who are the members of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation?
The members include Murugavel Janakiraman of Bharat Matrimony, Snehil Khanor of TrulyMadly, Dr Ritesh Mallik of Innov8 Coworking and Sairee Chahal of SHEROES, among others.
What is the focus of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation?
The focus of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation is to build an association that will concentrate and will be committed towards building a technology ecosystem that will be open, fair, neutral, and self-reliant.
Why was Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation founded?
Indian startups were against the new billing policy of Google. According to policy Indian developers who use Google Play to pay 30% commission for every in-app purchase.
Conclusion
A fully foreign-dominated organization that does not have an Indian in their decision-making process will not be part of Atmanirbhar Digital India Foundation. The organization has been set up as a trust and will concentrate on entry-level Indian Technology companies.
However, they are yet to be finalized with certain definitions. They are planning to start the onboarding soon. ADIF has said that there will be elections soon in order to appoint formal positions in the Trust.
The digital payments company Paytm has launched a mini app store in order to support Indian app developers and entrepreneurs. It has now become a direct competitor to the Google play store and its dominance in the market. Paytm has come up with Mini app store, following the temporary ban it faced from Google Play store on 18thSeptember for violating the developer guidelines on real money gaming.
Phonepe which is Paytm rival, had launched its own in app platform in June 2018, which was later rebranded as PhonePe Switch in October 2019. Instead of giving local apps and developers, Paytm is hosting links to Progressive Web Pages (PWAs) which are light apps that can run within a web browser without requiring any installation.
Mini apps are custom-built mobile websites that offer users an app-like experience without having to download them, thereby helping users save their data and memory. The mini app store only has a few apps listed, but’s plans to list out 300 services in the coming days. According to Paytm’s press release, the mini app store has been designed to help small developers and businesses in India to set up low cost and easy to build apps using HTML and Javascript.
More than 300 apps, including Decathlon, Ola, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino’s Pizza, Fresh Menu, NoBroker have joined the Paytm app store. The startup founders such as Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Razorpay’s Harshil Mathur, along with 50 other founders discussed on the possibility of building an Indian app store to challenge Google.
The various apps that are included into the mini app store
Paytm said that the Mini app store has been in its beta testing phase with select users in the country for some time and has seen over 12 Million visits in the month of September. It also has apps like AQI monitor, EMI calculator, Mojo Pizza, Horoscope, Speedtest and Unit converter. While more apps are expected to join soon.
The companies move indicates a fallout from google as it is mandatory for the developers listed on its Play Store to use its billing service. Google charges a 30% commission on any transaction made for a digital product or service through its in app billing system. Paytm aims to help developers in reaching out their products to the masses.
These apps open within a window inside the Paytm app itself and the listing will also be free. It will also provide developers with free payment avenues including Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank and UPI. However it should be noted that a 2% extra charge is levied for payments that use credit cards. Paytm is also providing the developers with a dashboard for analytics, payment collection and various marketing tools to better engage with users.
Accessibility to Mini App store
To access the Mini App Store, open your Paytm app. On the home page, click on Show More > Mini App Store from the pop-up menu. The portal allows direct access to users to explore, use, and make payments through the apps, without any additional downloads or installs.
Indian App makers want an alternatives to Google Play
When Google had recently accounted that it would enforce its 30% fee for apps, the Indian app developers and entrepreneurs to demand for a national app store alternatives to google play. Google play store then pushed back the 30% commission in India until March 31, 2022. The tech giant says that the delay has been so the Indian developers have enough time to implement the UPI for subscription option that will be made available on Google play.
When asked about the issue Vishwas Patel, The Chairman of Payments Council of India and a member of IAMAI said that, “Just because Google owns the gate and the gateway to the digital ecosystem of this country they should not act arbitrarily and enforce their rules and regulation that are contrary to our country laws”.
Paytm Takes On Google, Launches Mini Android App Store In India To Support Local Developershttps://t.co/nIEGyqyEIn
Google stand in courts is that is does not need RBI authorization as it is not a payment system operator but now it is mandatory that Indian apps use only Google proprietary billing and payments systems. “Google should not exercise its dominant position rather allow a level playing field for everyone” he added.
The Indian developers plan to lobby the government and come up with an alternative to Google. The business channel ET now also reported that the government is planning to ramp up its Mobile Seva app store, which has mostly catered to MSMEs, to act as an alternative to Google and Apple platform. On twitter, Razorpay founder Harshil Mathur added that, India needs a local app store long-term, as it will otherwise eat up most businesses and asked if anyone trying to build one.
On 29thSeptember google said that, “Play distributed apps must use Google Play billing and as the method of payment if they require or accept payment for access to features or services, including any app functionality, digital content or goods. This applies only to apps and has been purportedly done to prevent revenue leakages to Google Play from January 2021.”
The government is reportedly planning to make the Mobile Seva app store mandatory on all smartphones. Paytm recently listed on the store, which mostly has Government apps. In the absence of any legal means, the government will have its work cut out for making a viable alternative to Google and Apple, experts said.
India came another step closer to Atmanirbhar Bharat from a technological aspect as it plans a new alternative to reduce the dependency of consumers on the global tech giants. These have progressively undergone analysis for alleged unjust practices and focusing the cornering piece of the overall industry. The Play Store Alternative in India is soon to make a change in the global market.
As per recent news, Google said that while stages are permitted to utilize their own installment frameworks through the websites, or through different stores, they have to pay a 30% charge in case they decide to utilize Google Play. A few organizers and engineers named the choice unjustifiable, saying that it can hurt the market places in India.
The Start-up Founders Came Forward
Start-up founders came forward
Vijay Shekhar Sharma from Paytm, Deep Karla from MakeMyTrip, executives from PolicyBazaar, RazorPay and Sharechat are in the list of 150 entrepreneurs and start-up founders joining hands to initiate this new idea of Play Store alternative in India.
In a meeting that was held on Tuesday, the team came up with new approaches to set up a large-scale platform that will profoundly host local apps and break the duopoly market that is being played by both Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store, as recorded by a source from Economic Times. The developing records of founders expressed their grievances about Google’s “monopolistic” market in India home to one of the globally set up ecosystems, and discussed that whatever they have asserted was the unjustifiable and conflicting authorization of Play Store’s rules in the nation.
Their exertion comes days after a little gathering of firms which included Epic Games, Spotify, Basecamp, Match Group and ProtonMail shaped their own alliance to compel Apple and Google to make changes to their commercial center principles.
Their exertion comes days after a little gathering of firms including Epic Games, Spotify, Basecamp, Match Group, ProtonMail shaped their own alliance to compel Apple and Google to make changes to their commercial center principles.
Apps Violating Google Guideline
Violation of guidelines
This conflict started with Paytm being removed for a few hours from the Google Play Store. On this event, Google claimed that Paytm was accused of not following a few rules and regulations on its fantasy gaming promotions. Google had once already claimed that offering cash-back and vouchers alone does not violate any terms and conditions by Google.
It additionally let out a notice in its explanation that further violations will make for stricter activities. On the contrary, Vijay Shekhar Sharma has also complained that the problem lies in India’s app ecosystem. He has also added “In case that we accept this nation can assemble digital business; we should realize that it is at another person’s hand to lend a favor for the business and not this present nation’s standards and guidelines.”
Even the food apps like Zomato and Swiggy also got wrongly positioned by Google and got notified for their offer and cashback offered due to the IPL for promotional aspects of in-app games. Zomato has, however, assured that they are going to rearrange themselves according to the guidelines set up by Google and this time they are also planning to replace their latest strategy with strategy with a more exciting program within this week.
The entertainment apps too were not spared from Google’s eye. Several other firms including Hotstar have also been the victim of the guideline violation of Google Play Store.
Alternative App
Play Store alternative in India
Google says it will permit the developers to sell their services through other application stores, or websites, the businesses don’t consider this to be a viable alternative. Naidu proposed that unless the government and administration decide to interfere, there might be no other solution. According to Prasanto K. Roy, tech policy analyst, the administration’s Mobile Seva App store has over a thousand applications and 85 million downloads, yet it is uncertain among Indian clients.
Then again, having India’s own app store may not be an answer in any case. Many are giving it an eye as a kind of stop-gap. Roy also claimed that substitute app stores like Amazon App Store and Samsung’s Galaxy Store will essentially not have a similar grip as Google Play. He said it’s not simply their smaller numbers that will shield them from substituting the local stores, clients are additionally determined towards Google Play by their habit.
Google To Join With Jio
Google joining hands with Jio
Mukesh Ambani, the richest man of Asia, who runs oil-to-retails giant Reliance Industries and introduced the technology-oriented Jio Platforms has pulled in over $20 billion in speculation from Google, Facebook, and 11 other prominent investors this year.
Google has claimed that in the month of July, it will be joining hands with Jio Platforms on low-cost Android cell phones. Jio Platforms is intending to dispatch almost around 200 million cell phones in the following three years. Bloomberg previously detailed about Jio Platform’s cell phone creation plans.
Growth in the usage of Play store
A portion of the participating individuals is likewise cheerful that the administration, which has asked the residents in India to become independent to restore the declining economy, would support their development.
The Paytm app has been removed from the Google Play Store for violating policies related to unregulated gambling apps. According to CNBC – TV18, Google had notified the developers by releasing a statement on September 18th regarding this issue. Google said that, “we don’t allow online unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting.” Google also mentioned that the app leads to consumers to an external website that’s allows them to participate in the paid tournaments to win real money/cash prizes.
That being said this might not affect people that have already installed the app on the phones, but will affect the company as google will not be allowing any more new downloads. The app is to stay out of the platform until the developers bring the app into compliance. However if they are any more repeated policy violations, google has decide to take even more serious action which may include terminating google play developer accounts.
The Enforcement Directorate has discovered an online betting scam that involved Chinese nationals that have used online wallets such as Paytm, Cashfree and Razorpay. It has also frozen Rs 46.96 crore in four bank accounts after raiding 15 locations across Delhi, Gurgoan, Mumbai and Pune after companies were found to be running some illegal online betting apps linked to China. During the course of the search ED in 2019, the accounts of Dokypay Technology Pvt Ltd were mostly found in the HSBC bank.
These accounts have seen a collection of Rs 1,268 crore out of which Rs 300 crore came via Paytm payment gateway and around Rs 600 crore was transferred out via Paytm payment gateway. It has also been found that the locals were hired in order to open these bank accounts with the HSBC bank and then open trade these accounts with online wallets namely Paytm, Cashfree, Razorpay, etc.
Paytm taken down from Play Store. Google says: "We don’t allow online casinos or support any unregulated gambling apps that facilitate sports betting. This includes if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win money."
Further a network of agents were hired to attract new customers /members, referral codes were then sent privately to invite the new members. These online wallets had lax due to diligent mechanisms and their non-reporting of suspicious transaction to the regulatory authorities helped the accused companies to launch pan India activities. And Paytm app being taken out of the google play store was the result of this situation.
Paytm is marketing Paytm Cricket League, announcing its foray into the world of fantasy sports.
Even if an app leads consumers to an external website that allows them to participate in paid tournaments to win real money or cash prizes, it is in violation of Play Store policies.
This also comes as a huge blow for Paytm as it was also planning to launch Paytm First Games on the 19th September. Paytm First Games is an Indian Digital payments leader’s platform into the fantasy game segment and had also made Sachin Tendulkar as its brand ambassador. The app had aimed to get over 100 million users during the upcoming Indian Premier League and had planned over 200 live events on the platform over the time range of six months.
When asked about this decision, the CEO of Paytm Vijay Shekhar said that companies like Facebook and Google have the responsibility to hep the growth of Indian Startups and the ecosystem. He also added that he thought Google was acting like the judge, jury and executioner because it has the power to remove apps from the App store.
Paytm had earlier put out their official statement, in which they stated that they observed google has been using its policies, rules and regulations selectively allowing a few large companies like Paytm First Games to distribute and list their respective Real money gaming apps on play store, without any action, hindrance by google play store and supporting this unfair trade and practices.
The statement also included that FIFS took this matter up and reached out to google to protest against this unfair trade practice. Paytm also has insisted that is a level playing field is not re-establishes , we may be forced to seek any other advice including legal action. Promotion of MPL in times portfolio companies including Cricket Buzz, Gana, MX player has also been stopped. And ended it by saying that they were confident and will be able to convince them to allow all our member apps on the Play Store.
The Current Situation
Later on in the day, Paytm has successfully managed come back on Google play store as CEO of Paytm Vijay Shekhar, Tweeted saying that “Thanks everyone for your support! Paytm App is back, live in Play Store. We launched a UPI CashBack campaign this morning. Our app got suspended by Google for this. India, you decide if giving cash back is gambling.
