New Delhi:
In a bold move, Google has taken the initiative to remove apps belonging to 10 Indian companies, sparking controversy in one of its fastest growing markets. This list includes famous names like BharatMatrimony and Naukri.
The controversy primarily revolves around Google charging 11% to 26% on in-app payments. Indian startups have long protested against the unfair practices of the US tech giant.
Google, on the other hand, argues that these fees play an important role in the development and promotion of the Android and Play Store app ecosystem.
Although Google has not yet released the list of apps removed from the Play Store, here are the names that are known:
- BharatMatrimony – Dating/Matchmaking Application
- Truly Madly – Dating/Matchmaking Application
- Quack Quack – Dating Site
- Stage – OTT Platform
- KUKU FM – OTT Podcast App
Three apps removed by Google yesterday are now back on Playstore. These are:
- Jeevansathi.com – Dating/Matchmaking Application
- 99 Acres – Property Trading Places
- Naukri.com – Job Recruitment Site
This is not the first time that Google has clashed with Indian companies over App Store policies. In 2020, the tech giant briefly removed popular Indian payments app Paytm from the Play Store citing policy violations.
Google’s dominance in the Indian market is clear, with an astonishing 94% of phones in the country running on its Android platform. The removal of these apps has left millions of users without access to popular services, raising concerns about the impact on both consumers and the affected companies.
