Updated: 06 Oct 2020, 11:55 AM IST
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The empire strikes back
On September 18, Google blocked Paytm from its Play Store for a few hours for violating its policy on sports betting activities. The app was later restored after the fintech app removed the ‘cashback’ feature linked to a game on the app.
This led to a war of words between Paytm and Google, and eventually led to the launch of Paytm app store.
Agencies
After the removal of Paytm from Play store, Google faced a backlash from Indian developers with many saying the tech giant cannot force Indian app developers/owners to sell digital services by compulsorily using its billing system.
There were also calls for a local app store to offer more choice to developers and consumers. Following the row, Google extended the time for developers in India to integrate with the Play billing system to March 31, 2022.
Paytm had alleged that it was “arm-twisted” by the search engine major to comply with its biased Play Store policies “that are meant to artificially create Google’s market dominance”.
Paytm chief executive Vijay Shekhar Sharma said Google’s decision to defer the levy of a 30% commission from Indian businesses selling digital goods through Play Store apps was an “admission of guilt” by the US-based tech giant.
Paytm on Monday launched its Android Mini App Store to support Indian developers, weeks after its app was blocked from Google Play Store for a few hours for violating the latter’s policy on sports betting activities.
Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said that it will empower young Indian developers to leverage Paytm’s reach and payments to build new innovative services.
Paytm app store has mini-apps which are custom-built mobile websites that give users app-like experience without having to download them. More than 300 app-based service providers such as Decathalon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino’s Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the programme.
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