As per the Search Giant, 10 Indian companies had chosen for an extended period of time not to pay for the “immense value they receive on Google Play.
Indian startups have for years been protesting against many of the U.S. giant’s practices, including its in-app fee charges. Google says its fees help develop and promote the Android and Play Store app ecosystem. To subscribe please click tau.id/2iy6f and access our live channel.
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On Friday, India’s Matrimony.com, matchmaking apps Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony and Jodii were removed from Google’s Play Store, its founder Murugavel Janakiraman told a major leading International news agency.
Google began removing the apps of 10 companies in India on Friday, including some popular matrimony apps such as Bharat Matrimony and job search app Naukri, in a dispute over service fee payments in one of the company’s fastest-growing markets.
Matrimony.com’s Bharat Matrimony app had been downloaded more than 50 million times, Janakiraman said. The company said it has more than 40 million customers. Info Edge’s job search app Naukri and real estate search firm 99acres were also removed, according to Google Play Store listings.
The dispute centres on efforts by some Indian startups to stop Google from imposing a fee of 11% to 26% on in-app payments, after the country’s antitrust authorities ordered it to dismantle an earlier system of charging 15% to 30%.
Google effectively received the go-ahead to charge the fee or remove apps after two court decisions in January and February, one by the Supreme Court. Matrimony.com shares fell as much as 2.7% initially but closed up 2.2% on Friday, while Info Edge dropped 1.5% before paring losses.
Only 3% of the more than 200,000 Indian developers who use the Google Play platform are required to pay any service fee. Google dominates the Indian market as 94% of phones are based on its Android platform.
