Payment Archives - Gizmochina

Google assures fair implementation of in-app payments policy in India after CCI probe

Soumyakanti — Wed, 17 May 2023 14:18:29 +0000

After an investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) into allegations made by Indian startups regarding Google’s in-app billing system, Google has announced that it will take measures to ensure the fair application of its Google Play payments policy in India. The company stated that it is fully compliant with the CCI’s October 2022 order and will expand its user choice billing to all developers in the country.

Google India Notifies Developers to Choose from 3 In-App User Choice Billing Options

In response to the allegations, Google emphasized that its payments policy adheres to the CCI’s order. The company also defended the fees it charges developers, stating in a blog post that the rates are 15% or lower, which are the lowest rates among major app stores. Furthermore, Google highlighted that the fee is reduced by an additional 4% if users opt for alternative billing systems, acknowledging that Google Play’s billing system was not utilized.

Developers in India now have three billing options available: using Google Play’s billing system, offering an alternative billing system alongside Google Play’s, or providing access to paid content through external means without any service fee.

Google noted that the majority of developers worldwide have already chosen one of these options. In India, the company will take steps to ensure that developers who have not implemented one of these choices comply with the policy, as the deadline for implementation has passed.

Previously, the CCI had fined Google Rs. 1337.76 crores for abusing its dominant position in the Android ecosystem. The order also required Google to enable users to uninstall first-party apps from their Android devices and cease imposing exclusivity clauses on device manufacturers.

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Spotify adds a new billing choice for Android users

Jeet — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 01:39:00 +0000

Earlier this year, Google announced a pilot project under which companies can bypass the Google Play billing system and can use their own or third-party payments system. The pilot project, named User Choice Billing, is currently limited to select applications and Spotify is among them.

Spotify and Google have now announced that User Choice Billing is available for the users of the music streaming platform in select markets and could expand to other regions later. The company will continue to include the option of Google Play billing.

Interestingly, Google will still get a cut of all the transactions that happen through the User Choice Billing payment system and not the company’s own Google Play billing. The company is reducing the payment commission by 4 percent, which means those developers using the third-party payments system will be paying either an 11 percent or 26 percent cut to Google.

Even though Google gets a commission for the third-party payments system, Spotify says that the system still represents progress toward greater “platform fairness and expanded payment options.” The streaming giant has termed the deal as fair, but it’s not yet known if Google is offering a special deal to Spotify.

The User Choice Billing pilot project from Google is running in 35 countries, and apart from Spotify, some other applications, including dating app Bumble have joined the program. It is available for applications only and games remain ineligible for the program altogether.

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Apple faces over $5 million in weekly fines over Dutch dating app dispute

Sean — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:28:51 +0000

Apple is facing a sizeable fine from the Dutch competition regulator, the Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM). The company is being hit with 5 million Euros fine (roughly 5.6 million US Dollars).

According to the ACM (Via TheVerge), the Cupertino based giant is facing the fine for failing to allow dating app developers to use third party payments methods. It further added that the iPhone maker will continue to face additional 5 million Euros fine every week if they do not comply with the order, which was first issued back on 24th of December 2021. While the fine of more than 5 million US Dollars is a large amount, it likely won’t impact the multi trillion dollar company.

However, failing to meet the new standards might have Apple face stricter actions. On the other hand, the move from the ACM would also encourage similar agencies from different nations to also take such actions against the brand. An example of this is South Korea, which has already mandated third party payment systems being allowed on applications on the company’s App Store.

Apple had initially announced that it will be making changes ahead of its 15th January 2022 deadline, in accordance to ACM’s order. However, it has yet to roll out support for the third party payment providers in the Dutch App Store. ACM stated that “Apple has failed to adjust its conditions, as a result of which dating-app providers are still unable to use other payment systems.”

Apple to be charged by Europe’s antitrust regulators over NFC chip in iPhone

Jeet — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:40:57 +0000

European antitrust regulators are reportedly set to charge technology giant Apple with anti-competitive practices regarding the NFC chip inside iPhones and Apple Pay. It is said that the charges are being finalized and be sent to Apple sometime next year.

For those who are unaware, last year, the European Commission had opened an investigation into Apple Pay and the iPhone’s NFC chip last year. It was focusing on whether Apple unfairly locked out competition for contactless payment services by restricting the use of the NFC chip inside iPhones.

While details about the report remain unclear, it says that Apple is set to be charged with “anti-competitive practices related to its NFC chip technology.” Apple could be forced to “open up its mobile payment system to rivals.”

Apple has been slowly opening access to the NFC in the iPhone, but compared to its integration with Apple Pay, third-party services are still significantly hindered.

The development comes at a time when Apple has been found in breach of competition law related to its music streaming service in Europe earlier this year. Following complaints from Spotify, the EU competition commission said that Apple unfairly favors Apple Music over rival streaming services due to the fees imposed on App Store applications.

Apple is looking for a manager with cryptocurrency experience

Jeet — Fri, 28 May 2021 05:09:35 +0000

Cryptocurrency has been making rounds in the tech sector for quite some time now and companies are jumping on the crypto bandwagon, which is currently being seen as a future of online transactions by many.

Now, it seems like Apple is also planning to test the waters. A new job listing from the company, spotted by Coindesk, indicates that it is hiring for a Business Development Manager with experience in alternative payments, including cryptocurrency.

The job listing reads: “The Apple Wallets, Payments, and Commerce (WPC) team is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead Alternative Payments Partnerships. We are looking for a proven professional in global alternative and emerging payment solutions. We need your help forming partnership framework and commercial models, defining implementation paradigms, identifying key players, and managing relationships with strategic alternative payment partners. This position will be responsible for the end-to-end business development, including screening partners, negotiating and closing commercial agreements, and launching new programs.”

The role, which seems like a Senior one, includes developing new payment solutions, encompassing everything from the App Store and in-app purchases to retail store purchases and Apple Pay, in collaboration with “alternative payment partners.”

Apple is seeking applicants with at least five years of experience “working in or with alternative payment providers, such as digital wallets, BNPL, Fast Payments, cryptocurrency and etc.”

The development comes just a couple of years after Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey said in 2019 that the company is “watching cryptocurrency,” and explained “We think it’s interesting. We think it has interesting long-term potential.”