India’s own App Store! AatmaNirbharta?
All of a sudden, there’s a stir amongst Indian app developers, startup founders, and stakeholders about considering the idea of India’s own App Store that would directly compete with the top 2 App Stores, owned by Google & Apple
But, Why these discussions are happening? 3 major reasons:
1-> 2020, September 18 — Google removed Paytm from Google Play Store stating the following reason:
“Play Store prohibits online casinos and other unregulated gambling apps that facilitate or promote sports betting in India. Paytm’s umbrella app promotes fantasy sports, which has repeatedly violated Google’s Play Store policies”
Referring to a UPI cashback campaign offer, started by Paytm after the onset of IPL 2020!
Anyways, after a few hours, the app was restored back on the Google Play Store but Paytm is not at all happy with this!
The irony lies here,
Google’s own digital payment-app Google Pay regularly offers a similar kind of cashback in India at the beginning of the cricket season!
Paytm to Google be like:
“Tumhara Khoon, Khoon aur Hamara Khoon, Paani?”
2-> 2020, October 1 — Google sends notices to Zomato & Swiggy for violation of Google’s policy on sports betting activities on the app
Referring to, Zomato was running Zomato Premier League on its app & Swiggy offered ‘Match Day Mania’ during the ongoing IPL matches
A spokesperson from Zomato responded to this saying,
“Yes, we have received a notice from Google. We believe that the notice is unfair, but we are a small company and have already realigned our business strategy to comply with Google’s guidelines”
Meanwhile, Swiggy also has temporarily stopped the controversial services!
3-> Besides all these, Google recently clarified that developers of all apps that are on the Play Store will have to use Google Play’s billing system mandatorily
The apps that are on Google Play Store, are mostly associated with in-app purchases (that uses Google Play’s billing system) or subscription fees (such as NetFlix or other, who themselves have their own payment eco-system)
So, for the apps that are using the in-app purchase model, have to give 30% commission to Google for payment made through the in-app purchase by end-users! Ex. Buying weapons in Call of Duty
But!
2020, October 5— Google delays and postpones, its mandatory billing system (30%) for the Indian market within a few days of the announcement!
2020, October 6th — Paytm launches its own Mini App store that hosts mini-apps (a custom-built mobile website that gives users an app-like experience without having to download them)
FYI: Paytm Mini App store is not an apple to apple comparison with other app stores and is essentially not an app store — clarifies Paytm VP
2020, October 8th — Paytm CEO announced Rs 10 crore fund for mini-app developers on the Paytm Mini App Store in the Paytm Mini App Developer Conference
See,
30% commission, is no new thing! It was already there and it’s the same number that Apple charges but,
All these back-to-back incidences have made the Indian app developers worried about the future, and hence they are more interested in India having its own App Store as,
A) India is having over 500 million smartphone users and the majority of them are Android-based so it’s a huge market!
B)It would gradually make India self-reliant in the same market and hence saving, the burden of 30% commission too on Indian app developers!
Even, the Government of India has shown interest in this, let’s see how this goes as it won’t surely be an easy journey but it would be definitely worth it! #AatmaNirbharBharat
References: Gadgets 360, PayTM Official Blog, Indian Express, NewsBreak, Economic Times, YourStory, The Hindu, Tech Crunch, Tech Radar
