EU antitrust regulators quiz developers on Google app payments

EU antitrust regulators have requested app builders whether or not Alphabet unit Google‘s menace to take away apps from its Play Retailer in the event that they use different cost choices as a substitute of its personal billing system has harm their enterprise, two folks acquainted with the matter advised Reuters.

Critics say charges charged by Google and Apple at their cell app shops are extreme and price builders collectively billions of {dollars} a yr, an indication of the 2 corporations’ monopoly energy.

Questionnaires had been despatched to builders final month, the folks mentioned.

Of the 16 questions within the doc, some lined the interval 2017-2021 and others 2019-2021. The European Fee declined to remark. Google didn’t reply to an emailed request for remark.

The U.S. tech large has mentioned apps could be faraway from its app retailer beginning June this yr if builders don’t use its billing system.

Respondents had been requested whether or not Google’s coverage change this yr impacted the distribution of their items or companies on Google Play Store, which apps had been affected and if it affected their capacity to accumulate customers on Android gadgets, the folks mentioned.

Regulators needed to know if the change has pressured builders to drop different cost choices in favour of Google Billing and whether or not migrating customers to a different cost possibility affected the variety of pre-existing customers and the builders’ entry to knowledge.

Builders had been requested whether or not they believed they might supply a greater service or product if they’ve the choice of one other cost system.

The EU competitors enforcer additionally needed to know if Google allowed them to make use of an alternate cost system, charged a service charge for this or complained concerning the safety of their cost technique.

App builders had been requested if digital funds large Stripe, Dutch cost system Adyen and PayPal unit Braintree are seen as different cost methods.

Final month, Google mentioned non-gaming app builders can change to rival cost methods with a decrease charge of 12% as a substitute of 15%, with the transfer making use of to European customers, with the intention to adjust to EU guidelines that may come into power subsequent yr.

Politico first reported concerning the Fee’s question.

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