Page 4 - Google Play Store

More apps back on Play Store after complying with Google's billing norms

A few more apps came back on Play Store on Sunday after they complied with Google's billing policy, even as the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) expressed concerns as the majority of apps removed remained delisted. Murugavel J, founder and CEO of matrimony.com, said that only eight of the company's apps, including Bengali Matrimony, Marathi Matrimony, Tamil Matrimony, Jodii and Bharat Matrimony were reinstated on Sunday, but only after they accepted Google's terms. A vast majority of its 100-plus apps are still not restored on Play Store, he said. "In spite of the government's clear message on the issue, Google has not taken steps to reinstate all the apps that had been delisted by it over billing policies," Murugavel told PTI. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday made it clear that the removal of apps by Google was unacceptable and that "startups will get the protection they need". Tension between Google and some Indian apps flared on Friday after the tech gia

Google offers compromise solution to restore delisted Indian apps

Play Store to host apps for free without using Google's payment system

Google Play Store's dominance hinders govt's internet goals: Chandrasekhar

The minister's remark came in the backdrop of recent takedown of Indian apps by Google playstore that were not complying with its user choice billing system

Google restores Naukri, 99acres, other apps after Centre's intervention

Google has reinstated some popular Indian apps it had removed from its Play Store, including Naukri and 99acres, amid the government's clear signal that the delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted. Sources said reinstating some of the apps was not linked to the government's position but with the concerned apps complying with the Play Store Billing policies. Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani, in a post on X, confirmed that many Info Edge apps are now back in the app marketplace. "Many of the Info Edge apps are back on the Play Store. An effort very well led by (company MD and CEO) Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night for this. Great crisis management," he said. Taking a strong view of Google pulling out some apps from its Play Store, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told PTI that the delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and that the tech company and startups concerned have been called for a meeting next week. In an interview, IT and Teleco

App delisting cannot be permitted: Vaishnaw on Google-Indian startups row

Taking a strong view of Google pulling off some apps from its Play Store, the government on Saturday said delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and that the tech company and the startups concerned have been called for a meeting next week. In an interview to PTI, IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the startup ecosystem is key to the Indian economy and their fate cannot be left to any big tech to decide. The minister's comments assume significance as Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments, even as apps and well-known startup founders cried foul. Taking a serious view of the issue, Vaishnaw said: "India is very clear, our policy is very clear...our startups will get the protection that they need." The minister said the government will be meeting Google and app developers who have been delisted, next week, to resolve the dispute. "I have already called Google...I

Never received notice from Google: Sanjeev Bikhchandani on removal of apps

Info Edge founder said that the only app in contention was Jeevansathi, and it was complied with on February 9

Info Edge's Naukri, Shiksha, 99 acres removed from Google Play Store

Info Edge (India) Ltd on Saturday said its mobile apps, including naukri.com, 99 acres.com, and shiksha.com have been removed from Google Play Store. This comes a day after Google began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. Google has said that 10 companies in the country, including "many well-established" had avoided paying fees despite benefiting from the platform. "We would like to inform you that the company's mobile applications (viz. Naukri.com Job Search App, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf Job Search App, 99acres Buy/Sell/Rent Property and Shiksha), have been removed/delisted from Google Play Store today by Google, along with several mobile applications of other companies/entities as well," Info Edge (India) Ltd said in a BSE filing. It said the action comes as a surprise to the company as it was taken without giving due and sufficient notice by Google. Info Edge clarified that users who alre

Google takes down Indian apps from Play store over service fee row

Digital startups say firm imposing exploitative policies on developers

IAMAI advises Google not to delist any apps from its Play Store in India

Earlier today, Google began removing the apps of 10 companies in India over service fee payments, including some popular matrimony apps like Bharat Matrimony

Aspiring Bollywood actors can now give auditions with this casting app

Yash Raj Films launches the YRF Casting App for aspiring actors, now available for download on Google Play Store

Google removes some India matrimony apps, execs calls move 'dark day'

The dispute centres on efforts by some Indian startups to stop Google from imposing a fee of 11% to 26% on in-app payments

Opt for loan apps that have partnered reputable regulated entities

The app must be featured on that entity's website and in RBI's whitelist

US judge calls Google playstore's $700 million settlement bad for customers

The lawsuits threatened billions of dollars in revenue generated by the sale and distribution of apps through Google Play

Google removes 2,200 fraudulent loan apps from Play Store: MoS Finance

The government on Tuesday informed Parliament that Google has suspended or removed more than 2,200 fraudulent loan apps from its Play Store between September 2022 and August 2023. The government is constantly engaged with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other regulators and stakeholders concerned to control fraudulent loan apps, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat K Karad said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha. "As per the information received from MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology), during April 2021-July 2022, Google had reviewed approximately 3,500 to 4,000 loan apps and suspended/removed over 2,500 loan apps from its Play Store," he said. Similarly, he said, during September 2022-August 2023, over 2,200 loan apps were removed from the Google Play Store. "Further, Google has updated its policy regarding enforcement of loan apps on the Play Store and only those apps are allowed on the Play Store which are published by Regulated Entities (REs) or thos

Madras HC dismisses appeals by tech firms against Google billing policy

Tech companies raised concerns over Google's new service fee, which ranged between 11-26% for using third-party billing systems

Google to add more real-money game apps on Play, charge a service fee

The "expanded RMG support" will be launched in June for developers in India, Mexico, and Brazil, with plans to extend the service to more countries later

Google rejected Play Store fee changes due to revenue impact: Epic Lawsuit

Google created Project Everest in 2021 to reconsider the Play Store billing model, according to the documents, which were released as part of an antitrust suit by Epic Games Inc

A competitive update

US court verdicts will benefit app developers

Alphabet reaches $700 mn deal in Google Play feud, to alter policies

The deal disclosed in a court filing late Monday calls for tweaks to Google Play policies designed to reduce barriers to competition in the markets for app distribution and payment processing

Google has removed 2,500 fraudulent loan apps from its Play Store, says FM

The government on Monday informed Parliament that Google has suspended or removed over 2,500 fraudulent loan apps from its Play Store between April 2021 and July 2022. The government is constantly engaged with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and other regulators and stakeholders concerned to control fraudulent loan apps, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. The matter is also regularly discussed and monitored in the meetings of the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC), an inter-regulatory forum under the chairpersonship of the Finance Minister. The objective is to remain proactive, maintain cyber security preparedness with constant vigilance, and take appropriate and timely action to mitigate any such vulnerabilities in the Indian financial system, she said. As part of steps taken to control fraudulent loan apps, she said, the RBI has shared a 'whitelist' of legal apps with the government of India, and this list was shared by t