Google’s resistance to third party Play store payments eases further with US tests

Google’s resistance to allowing third-party payment systems to touch its Play digital store appear to be ebbing away, with the search and ads giant last week announcing it has commenced tests of payment choice in the USA. Citing “strong interest from developers around the world” after a May 2022 announcement of third=party …

[John Brown (no body)]

This sounds odd.

I wonder why Google would expand this offering into regions where it's not being legally mandated? By allowing 3rd party payment processing, such as in-app etc, that means Google loses their PlayStore levy. I can only imagine that they have found a way to take a percentage from these other payment processors otherwise they'd be fighting tooth and nail to NOT allow them in wherever possible.

[DS999]

Re: This sounds odd.

Maybe because Apple makes a lot more from its App Store than Google does, it is a way for Google to hurt Apple - as a bit of a comeback for Apple hurting Google (though Facebook to a larger extent) when it blocked cross app tracking.

It also would eliminate one way for regulators to go after Google, but there are so many others I don't know what difference it makes. Whereas if Apple was to open up their app store (whether by choice or by legal decree) that would largely be the end of their legal challenges from regulators.