No longer will Android users of Amazon be able to purchase Kindle books through the app. The modification occurs as Google pushes its new rule requiring app developers to use the Play Store billing system.
No longer will Android users of Amazon be able to purchase Kindle books through the app. The modification occurs as Google pushes its new rule requiring app developers to use the Play Store billing system rather than their own. This also implies that both large and small app developers will now be subject to Google’s 30% tax on subscriptions and in-app purchases. It should be noted that Kindle e-books cannot be purchased on iOS.
If you select any book’s Kindle option on iOS, the Amazon app only displays a download sample option. It clearly states that this app does not support Kindle book purchases. Direct purchases must be made by users visiting the Amazon website. And now, Android users must deal with
Instead of an e-book purchase button, the Amazon Android app now displays a message asking, “Why can’t I buy on the app? “, according to Ars Technica, which noticed the change first. On June 1, Google will implement a new policy regarding the billing system, and if app developers do not comply, their apps may be removed from the Play Store.
It’s interesting that the Android app still offers the chance to buy Kindle e-books for India. It should be noted that Google has extended the deadline for India to implement the Play Store billing system until October 2022.
At the time, a Google representative stated, “We are extending this to October 31, 2022, to give developers in India the necessary product support for recurring payments through user-friendly payment systems, including UPI and wallets, and to give them more time in light of the changes to India’s recurring digital payments guidelines.”
This may explain why the Amazon app in India still allows for the purchase of e-books, though given the company’s recent developments in the US, this may change in the future.
Given the 30% commission, they will have to pay for transactions, other app developers in India are still not happy about the decision to implement the Play Store billing system.