Currently, if we make a payment in an application downloaded from the Google Play Store, we are forced to use Google’s own platform, which can be good or bad, depending on your preferences.
[Google Pay: todo sobre el servicio de pagos con el móvil de Android]
For developers, this means that a percentage of what they charge for their apps goes directly into Google’s pockets (15% up to the first million dollars and 30% thereafter).
Another way to pay on Android
These practices are very common in the industry, and Apple does exactly the same with its App Store; but that does not mean that they are well received, neither by promoters nor by legislators. In Europe, Google and Apple are awaiting major market regulation, and are already experimenting in advance with alternative means of payment on their platforms.
This week, Google announced that developers offering apps in Europe and the rest of the European Economic Area (mainly the EU, Norway, Iceland and Luxembourg) can now be part of the pilot program to offer apps. payment options to users.
Alternative payments on Google Play
Developer apps that sign up will be able to offer other payment methods outside of Google Play, although this may never be completely removed and will always be available as an option. But now apps will be able to show other alternative platforms, although that doesn’t mean Google will stop charging for every transaction; even though Google will take 4% less if we make the payment using the platform set up by the developer. The company justifies this payment by the fact that it must continue to invest in Android and Google Play.
In addition, Google has imposed significant requirements. Most notable is that the alternative payment method You will need to have your own customer service, and that you must have a process for resolving unauthorized transactions. In other words, if we have a problem with the payment, it will be the developer who will solve it, not Google; therefore, most will likely opt for an already established payment platform, such as Stripe. In this way, Google also intends to convince developers to continue to use only Google Play and thus avoid problems.
Google hopes to enable this feature this year, and will provide more details closer to the launch date.
