Info Edge founder bats for ’Indian app store’ after Google action on Indian apps
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Info Edge founder bats for ’Indian app store’ after Google action on Indian apps

Live Mint  

Info Edge founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani on Friday called for the creation of India's mobile application store as a part of its ‘Digital Public Infrastructure’ following tech giant Google India's action against mobile applications of 10 Indian companies. The tech giant took down multiple Indian mobile applications like Bharat Matrimony from Play Store because of a dispute over service fee payments. Alphabet Inc's unit, Google, has issued notices to Indian firms behind popular matchmaking sites over violation of payment rules including Info Edge and Matrimony.com. So far, applications like Bharat Matrimony, Info Edge's 99acres and Naukri.com have also been removed from Google Play Store.

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History of this topic

India's Competition Commission starts new probe into Google's app store policies following Winzo’s complaint
3 weeks, 3 days ago

India's Competition Commission starts new probe into Google's app store policies following Winzo’s complaint

Firstpost  

Winzo’s claims that Google, through its Play Store, imposes unreasonable terms on app developers via its Developer Distribution Agreement and Developer Program Policies. These policies create a one-sided relationship that limit developers’ ability to operate fairly in the market This investigation is not Google’s first brush with India’s competition watchdog. The probe centres around allegations that Google’s app store policies …

Xiaomi to replace GetApps with PhonePe's Indus Appstore in India, challenging Google Play Store
1 month ago

Xiaomi to replace GetApps with PhonePe's Indus Appstore in India, challenging Google Play Store

India TV News  

There is exciting news for Xiaomi fans out there. The transition to the Indus Appstore can be interpreted as a strategic initiative by Xiaomi, aimed at improving user experience while simultaneously adhering to the evolving regulatory landscape. The Indus Appstore, which was launched earlier this year, is an Android-based app marketplace designed to provide a more localised and user-friendly experience …

Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal slams Google for ’arbitrary and monopolistic’ actions harming Indian startups
4 months ago

Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal slams Google for ’arbitrary and monopolistic’ actions harming Indian startups

Live Mint  

Shaadi.com founder Anupam Mittal lashed out at Google on Wednesday, August 21, alleging that the tech giant's 'arbitrary and monopolistic actions' are stifling Indian startups and harming the country's economy. “Another one of countless examples of Google’s arbitrary and monopolistic actions that are impacting Indian startups and our economy’s future irreparably,” Mittal tweeted, tagging the Competition Commission of India, the …

Indian consumers still falling prey to unlawful loan applications: Report
8 months, 1 week ago

Indian consumers still falling prey to unlawful loan applications: Report

India TV News  

One-third of the high-confidence customers have limited knowledge about their digital loans in India. A recent report from the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment shared the insights from a customer survey which was conducted between December 2023 and January 2024 to systematically understand the gaps in users' approaches and knowledge about Digital Lending Applications in India and it further drives …

CCI Orders Probe Into Google's Play Store Policies: Here's What The Company Said
9 months, 1 week ago

CCI Orders Probe Into Google's Play Store Policies: Here's What The Company Said

News 18  

The Competition Commission of India on Friday ordered a probe into the Google Play Store, accusing the tech giant of exploiting its dominant position in the country’s online market. The CCI said that Google allegedly imposed unfair terms and discriminatory practices in its Play Store, violating several provisions of the country’s anti-trust law. The CCI decision came after multiple Indian …

Setting the rules in disputes over apps
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Setting the rules in disputes over apps

Hindustan Times  

Last week, Google delisted the apps of 10 Indian businesses from its proprietary app store. This incident, which saw some apps relisted after mediated discussions, highlights the need for a thoughtful resolution of business disputes in the digital economy, increasingly contested on the notion of “fairness”. The margins-led fight between apps and their distributors has many analogues, such as telecom …

Google reinstates Indian apps, will require payment of dues
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Google reinstates Indian apps, will require payment of dues

The Hindu  

Google is reinstating dozens of apps that were delisted by the company on March 1 for resisting the firm’s platform fees on in-app payments, the tech company said in a statement on March 5. “In the spirit of cooperation, we are temporarily reinstating the apps of the developers with appeals pending in the Supreme Court,” a Google spokesperson said, referring …

Google Play Store: 8 out of 10 Indian companies return to the platform
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Google Play Store: 8 out of 10 Indian companies return to the platform

India TV News  

As the battle between Google and Indian startups intensifies, some apps of 8 out of 10 key homegrown companies who are spearheading the fight with the tech giant are already back on the Google Play Store after they complied with the new policy. Google had delisted more than a dozen apps by major Indian digital companies, including Matrimony and Shaadi.com …

Indian startups caught in crosshairs as Google raises compliance heat
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Indian startups caught in crosshairs as Google raises compliance heat

New Indian Express  

India’s tech startups and new-age firms seem to have a compliance problem. The latest Google Play Store episode reveals that some startup promoters believe regulations can be bent and rules broken. Google temporarily removed 10 app developers from its Play Store for not complying with its updated payment policy. Google’s action came after some startups moved the Supreme Court challenging …

Google reverses decision, restores Shaadi.com, Naukri, and more apps on Play Store
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google reverses decision, restores Shaadi.com, Naukri, and more apps on Play Store

India TV News  

After facing intense criticism, Google has started to reinstate some of the Indian digital companies which it delisted from the Play Store. Earlier in the day, the Internet and Mobile Association of India slammed the removal of Indian companies' apps and asked Google to reinstate those delisted apps on its Play Store. Google had delisted more than a dozen apps …

Google agrees to restore Indian apps after IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's intervention
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google agrees to restore Indian apps after IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw's intervention

Op India  

On Saturday, March 2, Google reversed its earlier decision and agreed to restore the Indian apps removed from the Play Store over a dispute regarding the service fees. This kind of de-listing cannot be permitted.” Earlier, on Friday, Google had removed apps belonging to 10 Indian companies, including well established brands like Bharatmatrimony and Naukri. While removing the apps, the …

Google restores Indian apps after intervention by Centre: Report
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google restores Indian apps after intervention by Centre: Report

Hindustan Times  

Google on Saturday restored all Indian apps it had removed, following intervention by the Narendra Modi government, ANI reported. Searches on Google Play Store had revealed that apps like Shaadi, Matrimony.com, Bharat Matrimony, Altt Balaji, Kuku FM were among the apps removed by the tech giant. Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman had described the move as "dark day" for the …

Centre stern after Google's action on Indian apps: ‘Delisting can’t be permitted'
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Centre stern after Google's action on Indian apps: ‘Delisting can’t be permitted'

Hindustan Times  

Union telecom minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took a strong stance for the Indian startups in the middle of the row with Google, saying that the delisting of the apps from the Google Play Store “is not permitted”. Google has taken down several apps from Play Store in India Google's parent company Alphabet Inc sent a notice to 10 companies for the …

5 Info Edge apps delisted from Google Play Store, company tells bourses
9 months, 3 weeks ago

5 Info Edge apps delisted from Google Play Store, company tells bourses

Hindustan Times  

Five apps from Info Edge --- Naukri.com, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf, 99acres and Shiksha --- have been delisted by Google from its Play Store, the Indian tech giant informed the bourses on Saturday. Info Edge said the removal/delisting of the company’s mobile applications from the Google Play Store came as a surprise to it. “The removal/delisting of the company’s mobile applications …

IAMAI urges Google to refrain from delisting Indian apps from Play Store
9 months, 3 weeks ago

IAMAI urges Google to refrain from delisting Indian apps from Play Store

Hindustan Times  

Industry body IAMAI advised tech giant Google against removing and delisting any Indian apps from the Play Store over alleged non-compliance with its payments policy. This comes shortly after Google decided to remove multiple apps from the Google Play store, including popular matrimony apps. Internet and Mobile Association of India confirmed that at least four of its members have received …

Startups cry foul as Google yanks apps off Play Store for noncompliance
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Startups cry foul as Google yanks apps off Play Store for noncompliance

Live Mint  

New Delhi/Bengaluru: On Friday, Google removed 10 popular Indian apps, including Bharat Matrimony, Shaadi.com, and Kuku FM, from its Play Store, and warned several others about possible actions for consistently failing to comply with its billing policies. “Our apps were taken off the Play Store on Friday morning along with a notice and a blog post detailing Google’s policy on …

Google crackdown against BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi: Here's what happened
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google crackdown against BharatMatrimony, Jeevansathi: Here's what happened

Hindustan Times  

Google is currently mulling taking down apps by 10 companies in India, including some of the top matrimony apps in the country. Google is planning to take down multiple Indian matrimony apps Google's parent company Alphabet Inc is expected to commence a showdown with BharatMatrimony and Jeevansathi, two of the most noted matrimony apps in India, over the service fee …

Google India may remove BharatMatrimony, Info Edge and 8 others for non-payment. All you need to know
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google India may remove BharatMatrimony, Info Edge and 8 others for non-payment. All you need to know

Live Mint  

Tech giant Google may remove apps from 10 Indian companies, including popular matrimony apps, amidst a disagreement over service fee payments, Reuters reported citing sources. The move could also potentially escalate tensions with startup firms, it added The dispute revolves around the startups' resistance to Google's imposition of a service fee ranging from 11-26 percent, on in-app payments in India. …

Google mulls removing apps by 10 companies in India for not paying service fee
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google mulls removing apps by 10 companies in India for not paying service fee

Hindustan Times  

Alphabet Inc's Google will enforce action against the apps of 10 companies for not paying a service fee for the usage of its app store platform in India, including potentially de-listing their apps, the tech giant said on Friday. Companies including Walt Disney and Tinder-owner Match have previously sued Google over its policy of imposing a "service fee" of 11%-26% …

Why did Google take action against 10 Indian developers? Here's all you need to know
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Why did Google take action against 10 Indian developers? Here's all you need to know

India TV News  

Google has announced that it will remove some Indian apps from its Play Store. “After giving these developers more than three years to prepare, including three weeks after the Supreme Court’s order, we are taking necessary steps to ensure our policies are applied consistently across the ecosystem, as we do for any form of policy violation globally,” Google wrote in …

Google starts removing multiple Indian apps from Play Store for not paying service fee
9 months, 3 weeks ago

Google starts removing multiple Indian apps from Play Store for not paying service fee

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: Google on Friday began removing some apps, including popular matrimony apps, from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. While Bharat Matrimony founder Murugavel Janakiraman described the move as "dark day" for the Internet in India, Kuku FM co-founder Vinod Kumar Meena, in a statement, said that Google was behaving like a 'monopoly'. …

PhonePe launches app store to take on Google’s Play Store
10 months ago

PhonePe launches app store to take on Google’s Play Store

Hindustan Times  

Walmart-backed Indian fintech PhonePe on Wednesday launched its app store for Android called Indus Appstore, becoming the first Indian rival to Google’s Play Store. The company is in conversation with multiple phone manufacturers so that the app store can come pre-loaded on different Android cellphones, founder and PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam said at the launch event in Delhi. “We are …

Apple, Google remove foreign eSIM providers Airalo, Holafly: Report
11 months, 2 weeks ago

Apple, Google remove foreign eSIM providers Airalo, Holafly: Report

Hindustan Times  

Tech giants Apple and Google have taken down two apps offering international SIM services, from their respective app stores – App Store and Play Store – in India. The apps were removed following instructions from the Department of Telecommunications, which has also contacted internet service providers to block access to the websites of both the apps. Google Play Store The …

Google says court order on Disney app fee in India temporary
1 year, 5 months ago

Google says court order on Disney app fee in India temporary

The Hindu  

Google said on Wednesday an Indian court's directive ordering the company to charge a lower 4% in-app payment on Disney's streaming service in the country was a temporary measure until the court proceedings play out. Disney in India has gone to court in what is the latest and most high-profile challenge to Google's policy of imposing a "service fee" of …

Firms resist Google’s fees on in-app purchases, as non-compliance deadline looms
1 year, 6 months ago

Firms resist Google’s fees on in-app purchases, as non-compliance deadline looms

The Hindu  

Dating and matrimonial apps, OTT streaming apps and ed-tech platforms have come together to pressure Google into removing or vastly reducing commissions the search giant charges for in-app purchases on Android smartphones. Last October, the Competition Commission of India ordered Google, among other things, to “not restrict app developers from using any third-party billing/payment processing services, either for in-app purchases …

Digital Loan Apps in India denied access to user location and call logs: Know Google’s latest guidelines
1 year, 6 months ago

Digital Loan Apps in India denied access to user location and call logs: Know Google’s latest guidelines

India TV News  

Digital loan apps have emerged as a troublesome issue in recent years, exploiting individuals looking for quick and easy money. The companies responsible for these apps no longer have access to sensitive data, including contacts, photos, videos, location information, and call logs from users' devices. Moreover, Google is now demanding that all legitimate app companies provide supporting documentation to verify …

Apple says need solid reason to take down betting apps: Report
1 year, 6 months ago

Apple says need solid reason to take down betting apps: Report

Live Mint  

Apple has said that it needs a ‘concrete reason or a legal requirement’ to comply with the Centre’s directive to take down betting apps from its App Store, reported Economic Times. Apple has not refused to comply with the February order by the ministry of electronics and information technology, but it has made it clear that it cannot ‘arbitrarily’ remove …

Indian Government plans action against Google after antitrust breaches
1 year, 7 months ago

Indian Government plans action against Google after antitrust breaches

The Hindu  

India's government plans to take action against Alphabet Inc.'s Google after an antitrust watchdog last year found the group to have abused its market position by indulging in anti-competitive practices, a top IT minister told Reuters. India's antitrust body in October fined Google $275 million in two cases, which involved abusing its dominant position in the Android operating system market, …

Play Store policy breaches to face action
1 year, 7 months ago

Play Store policy breaches to face action

Live Mint  

Google Inc. is set to initiate strict action against Indian apps that fail to comply with its billing policies on Play Store. The announcement follows the controversy over its Play Store policies which led to the Competition Commission of India directing the tech behemoth to allow third-party payment systems for apps on the Play Store. Android apps disseminated via the …

Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal calls Google ‘Digital East India company’
1 year, 8 months ago

Shark Tank judge Anupam Mittal calls Google ‘Digital East India company’

Live Mint  

Shark Tank India judge and Shadi.com founder Anupam Mittal on Thursday hit out at Alphabet-owned Google for its ‘illegal’ choice billing system and even went to the extent of calling the company ‘Digital East India company.’ The billionaire investor said that Google is working in disregard to Indian laws and he hopes that the Prime Minister's Office official is taking …

Indian startups go to court to stop Google’s new in-app billing system
1 year, 8 months ago

Indian startups go to court to stop Google’s new in-app billing system

Live Mint  

A group of Indian startups has asked a court to suspend Alphabet Inc Google's new in-app billing fee system until the country's antitrust body investigates the U.S. firm for alleged non-compliance with its directives, a legal filing showed. The Alliance of Digital India Foundation last month asked India's antitrust regulator to investigate Google for devising a new system startups say …

Indian startups go to court to stop Google's new in-app billing system
1 year, 8 months ago

Indian startups go to court to stop Google's new in-app billing system

The Hindu  

A group of Indian startups has asked a court to suspend Alphabet Inc. Google's new in-app billing fee system until the country's antitrust body investigates the U.S. firm for alleged non-compliance with its directives, a legal filing showed. The Alliance of Digital India Foundation last month asked India's antitrust regulator to investigate Google for devising a new system startups say …

Startups go to court to stop Google’s new in-app billing system
1 year, 8 months ago

Startups go to court to stop Google’s new in-app billing system

Live Mint  

A group of Indian startups has asked a court to suspend Alphabet Inc Google's new in-app billing fee system until the country's antitrust body investigates the U.S. firm for alleged non-compliance with its directives, a legal filing showed. The Alliance of Digital India Foundation last month asked India's antitrust regulator to investigate Google for devising a new system startups say …

Google Antitrust Case: Android phones in India only need to pre-load Google Play Store, shows leaked terms
1 year, 10 months ago

Google Antitrust Case: Android phones in India only need to pre-load Google Play Store, shows leaked terms

Firstpost  

Thanks to Google’s antitrust ruling by the CCI, the Android operating system will see a massive change in how it presents itself to audiences, show leaked terms. Earlier this year, India upheld a judgement that was intended to sever Google’s grip over Android, focusing primarily on the applications Google compelled its partners to install, as well as the company’s control …

Google India Case: Android Phones Could Soon Launch Without Preloaded Google Apps
1 year, 10 months ago

Google India Case: Android Phones Could Soon Launch Without Preloaded Google Apps

News 18  

Google has been battling the Android antitrust case in India for a while, but recently it got a big setback with conditions placed on its business practices. One of the clauses was removing Google apps on Android phones, which means not preloading apps like Chrome, Maps and Gmail on smartphones in the country. Google has been forced to develop a …

Decoding Google’s message about Android’s evolution in India
1 year, 10 months ago

Decoding Google’s message about Android’s evolution in India

Hindustan Times  

Google, after the recent legal battle, is finally moving ahead with compliance according to the directives of the Competition Commission of India ; at least compliance with some of what the CCI mentioned in its report late last year. The issues for which directives were mentioned, some of which later became contentious, include licensing of Android to phone makers with …

Google Says Will Allow Users in India to Choose Default Search Engine on Android Phones
1 year, 10 months ago

Google Says Will Allow Users in India to Choose Default Search Engine on Android Phones

News 18  

After failing to get a court order to block an antitrust ruling, Google on Wednesday said it will allow users in India to choose default search engine on Android-based smartphones. “Indian users will now have the option to choose their default search engine via a choice screen that will soon start to appear when a user sets up a new …

CCI’s order strikes a blow at the efforts to accelerate digital adoption: Google
1 year, 11 months ago

CCI’s order strikes a blow at the efforts to accelerate digital adoption: Google

The Hindu  

Google India on Friday penned down an emotional blog on the recent CCI’s ruling against it and its impact on the India’s digital adoption and Android market as a whole. “At a time when only half of India’s population is connected, the directions in the CCI’s order strikes a blow at the ecosystem-wide efforts to accelerate digital adoption in the …

Google warns India antitrust ruling will hike costs for app developers
1 year, 11 months ago

Google warns India antitrust ruling will hike costs for app developers

Hindustan Times  

Alphabet Inc's Google said on Friday that India's new antitrust order to change how the company markets its Android platform will drive up costs for app developers, equipment makers, and consequently, consumers. Google The Competition Commission of India in October fined Google ₹1,337.76 cr for exploiting its dominant position in Android, and asked it to change restrictions imposed on smartphone …

Google Warns India's Android Growth at Risk Due to Antitrust Order: All Details
1 year, 11 months ago

Google Warns India's Android Growth at Risk Due to Antitrust Order: All Details

News 18  

NEW DELHI: The growth of Google’s Android ecosystem is on the brink of stalling in India due to an antitrust order that asks the company to change how it markets the platform, the U.S. company has said in a Supreme Court challenge seen by Reuters. The Competition Commission of India in October fined Alphabet Inc-owned Google $161 million for exploiting …

Google Says Antitrust Order Will Stall Android Growth In India: Report
1 year, 11 months ago

Google Says Antitrust Order Will Stall Android Growth In India: Report

ABP News  

Tech giant Google has warned that the growth of its massively popular Android ecosystem in India will stall due to an antitrust order by the Competition Commission of India that asks it to change how it markets the Android platform, the media has reported. India's antitrust watchdog had penalised the Alphabet-owned company $161 million for exploiting its dominant position in …

Google pauses Play Store billing in India after CCI ruling
2 years, 1 month ago

Google pauses Play Store billing in India after CCI ruling

Live Mint  

Android-maker Google has paused its plans to enforce the Google Play billing system on Indian developers from October 31. Following the CCI’s recent ruling, we are pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Play’s billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions by users in India while we review our legal options and …

Explained | Why has Google got a second antitrust fine?
2 years, 1 month ago

Explained | Why has Google got a second antitrust fine?

The Hindu  

The story so far: In the second blow to Google’s coffers in a week, the Competition Commission of India on October 25 imposed a fine of ₹936.44 crore on the tech major for anti-competitive practices in its Play Store policies. In the current matter involving Google, the CCI examined if the company violated the Competition Act through its policy of …

Google India Responds To Second Setback In A Week: Here’s What It Said
2 years, 1 month ago

Google India Responds To Second Setback In A Week: Here’s What It Said

News 18  

Google India has claimed that it remains committed to its users in the country and is reviewing the decision to take the next steps towards its latest order from the Competition Commission of India on Tuesday. The search engine giant has been penalised for its anti-trust policies where app developers are mandatorily asked to push for payments via the Google …

Govt imposes Rs 936 crore penalty on Google for exploiting market dominance, using Play Store policies against App developers
2 years, 1 month ago

Govt imposes Rs 936 crore penalty on Google for exploiting market dominance, using Play Store policies against App developers

Op India  

On Tuesday, the Competitions Commission of India imposed a penalty of Rs 936.44 crore on Google for exploiting its dominant position in the market with regard to its Play Store policies. Competition Commission of India imposes a penalty of Rs 936.44 cr on Google for abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies, apart from issuing a …

Google is reviewing CCI's decision to evaluate next steps
2 years, 1 month ago

Google is reviewing CCI's decision to evaluate next steps

India TV News  

Google was hit hard by two back-to-back fines by the Competition Commission of India, and the tech giant has stated today that it is committed to its users and developers and reviewing the decision to evaluate the next steps. Last week, the competition watchdog imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple …

Ending dominance: The Hindu Editorial on Competition Commission of India’s ruling against Google
2 years, 1 month ago

Ending dominance: The Hindu Editorial on Competition Commission of India’s ruling against Google

The Hindu  

The recent order of India’s competition regulator against Google for abusing its dominant position in the Android mobile device ecosystem is significant not just for the amount of penalty imposed but also for the drastic changes in business practices that it requires the IT giant to undertake. On Thursday, the Competition Commission of India imposed a penalty of about ₹1,337 …

In second penalty in a week, CCI fines Google ₹936.44 crore for its Play Store policies
2 years, 1 month ago

In second penalty in a week, CCI fines Google ₹936.44 crore for its Play Store policies

The Hindu  

The Competition Commission of India on Tuesday imposed a penalty of ₹936.44 crore on Google for “abusing its dominant position with respect to its Play Store policies”, in the second such penalty on the internet giant within a week. The regulator noted that Play Store is by far the largest app marketplace connecting app developers with users on Android ecosystem …

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps
2 years, 3 months ago

Google faces pressure in India to help curb illegal lending apps

The Hindu  

Alphabet Inc's Google has been asked by the Indian government and the central bank to introduce more stringent checks to help curb the use of illegal digital lending applications in India, according to sources. Even though Google doesn't fall under the Reserve Bank of India's ambit, the U.S. tech giant has been called several times in the last few months …

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