Google is extending its third-party in-app billing pilot programme to new markets including India, Australia, Indonesia, Japan and European Economic Area (EEA) (EEA). With the latest version, non-gaming creators of mobile or tablet apps can use an extra pricing mechanism together with that of Google Play.
As part of the trial choice billing programme, service costs will be assessed to programmers. If a customer switches to an alternate invoicing method, the developer’s service cost is lowered by 4%.In a post to its help centre, the search engine giant said that it will be bringing its user-choice charging pilot programme to India and four additional nations.
In addition to Google Play’s billing system, the newest version allows creators of non-gaming apps with business registration in India, Australia, Indonesia, Japan, or the European Economic Area (EEA) to use an alternative charging method.
Google has indicated that there will be a service cost for developers, but that it would be lowered by 4% whenever customers use an alternative system.
Continuing to grow and iterate with our pilot partners, we will be releasing more in the coming months,” a Google spokeswoman was quoted as saying by PTI. At the time of purchase, customers are given the option of using either a credit card or an alternative billing method.
As part of the pilot programme, developers must provide Google Play with the total dollar amount of all in-app purchases made through the alternative payment method.
Both Alphabet’s subsidiary and Apple are under fire from antitrust regulators throughout the world for pressuring third-party developers to use their payment services despite the companies’ exorbitant costs and anti-competitive practices.
As part of the new endeavour, Google permitted Spotify to accept payments through both Spotify’s own system and Google Play Billing in certain areas as early as March.