Google is now stopping the ability to make in-app purchases in Android apps with alternative payment options. That was announced a long time ago. Parallel to the ban, there are also pilot projects that will continue to allow alternatives – including Spotify. “Apps should not redirect users to a payment method other than Google Play’s billing system,” says the policy, which Google has been enforcing since April 1.
According to its own statements, Google mainly wants to protect users. The company, like Apple, has been criticized for years for wanting to only bill its purchases internally through its own payment system while also teasing developers by letting Google monetize every purchase. Infographic: The Evolution of Android
Now Google has taken another step to no longer allow alternative payment methods in Android applications. According to the report of Online magazine The Verge some well-known offerings are affected – including the Android app from bookseller and service provider Barnes & Noble, which is widespread in the US. Previously you could buy digital books in the app and pay with a credit or debit card.
This no longer works, users are now criticizing it on social networks. In the case of Barnes & Noble, however, in-app purchases are no longer available at all because, as the company announced, they realized quite late that they can’t use Google Play’s billing system. Something similar was also heard from Audible. Effective immediately, Android users will no longer be able to make direct purchases in the app. It is not yet known which other widespread applications will be affected.
However, one must now assume that the companies that haven’t switched aren’t interested in it either, and instead expect their customers to only buy content through their websites themselves – thus continuing to avoid paying Google’s share of the revenue. At the same time, however, there are also tests, such as with Spotify. In a pilot project, Spotify was allowed to use an alternative that allows in-app purchases to be made outside of the Google billing system. What do you think of Google’s move? In the past few days, have you discovered any apps that are now banned?
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