Technology

Following the intervention of the center, Google agrees to restore Indian apps.

Following the intervention of the center, Google agrees to restore Indian apps.

By - 02 Mar 2024 06:10 PM

A dispute over service fees led to the removal of Indian mobile apps from the Play Store, but Google has started the process of restoring them. According to sources, the decision was made following a meeting between IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and company representatives.
Ten Indian companies' apps were removed by Google on Friday, causing controversy in one of its fastest-growing markets. With 94% of phones running on its Android platform, Google commands a large portion of the Indian market. Popular names like Naukri and Bharatmatrimony were on the list.The main point of contention is Google's in-app purchase fees, which range from 11% to 26%. Indian startups have long opposed the US tech giant's actions, believing them to be unfair.The creator of Bharat Matrimony, Christian Matrimony, Muslim Matrimony, and Jodii, Matrimony.com, expressed shock at the matchmaking apps' removal from the Google Play Store. Murugavel Janakiraman, the founder, described it as a "dark day" for India's internet, highlighting the possible broad effects on matchmaking services."One by one, our apps are being removed. It literally means that all of the best matrimonial services will be eliminated," Mr. Janakiraman stated, according to Reuters.

We possess an enormous and dynamic startup ecosystem. To ensure that this ecosystem is preserved, we must take all necessary measures. Google has embraced Indian technologies quite well. Before meeting with Google representatives, the minister told NDTV, "I am quite hopeful that Google will be reasonable with its approach."
Due to some policy infractions, Google temporarily removed the well-known Indian payments app Paytm from the Play Store in 2020. Following the change, the founder of the business and the larger startup community banded together to take legal action against Google and launch their own app stores.



 

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