Google Play

Google Play finally adds UPI subscriptions in India • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 15, 2022Posted in Apps, Google, Google Play, india, UPINo Comments

Unified Payments Interface — commonly known as UPI — has become the most popular mobile payment route for P2P and merchant payments in India, and now Google’s stepping up with an updated UPI functionality to meet demand. Google Play has enabled users in the South Asian country to make subscription-based purchases using UPI. On Tuesday, Google announced that it introduced UPI Autopay as a payment option on the Play Store to allow its users in the country to purchase subscriptions using UPI. The update comes months after Google launched UPI as a payment method for buying apps, games and in-app content through the Play Store in 2019. Users need to select the ‘Pay with UPI’ option after selecting a subscription plan using Google Play Billing to use UPI for recurring payments. Google confirmed to ZebethMedia that adding the new payment option will not bring any other changes to its billing system. This means it will continue to take commissions from subscription-based purchases through the Play Store in the country. The UPI Autopay option is available alongside the existing credit and debit card, net banking, direct carrier billing and gift cards options. Image Credits: Google “With the introduction of UPI Autopay on the platform, we aim to extend the convenience of UPI to subscription-based purchases, helping many more people access helpful and delightful services – while enabling local developers to grow their subscription-based businesses on Google Play,” said Saurabh Agarwal, Head of Google Play Retail & Payments Activation – India, Vietnam, Australia & New Zealand, in a prepared statement. The governing body overseeing UPI, the National Payment Corporation of India, launched the UPI Autopay service in 2020 to expand UPI to recurring transactions. It, however, received little interest last year when companies including Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar in the country enabled UPI Autopay on their apps. This resulted from the Reserve Bank of India’s payments rule that requires banks, financial institutions and payment gateways to obtain additional approval for auto-recurring transactions worth over 5,000 Indian rupees ($62). Last month, India’s antitrust body fined Google $113 million for abusing the dominant position of its Play Store in the country and ordered the company not to restrict app developers from using third-party payment processing services for in-app purchases and purchasing apps through the Play Store. As a result, Google indefinitely paused its policy’s enforcement requiring developers to use Play Store’s billing system for user transactions in the country. The Android maker is also testing alternative payment systems for the Play Store in countries including South Korea, Australia, Japan and most recently in the U.S. to resist regulatory pressure.

Google Play Games for PC program expands to the US and seven other countries • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 3, 2022Posted in Apps, Gaming, Google, Google Play, Google Play Games, Google Play Games for PCNo Comments

Google is expanding its Google Play for PC program to eight more countries including the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore in open beta. That means all players in these regions with Windows systems that meet the minimum requirements can access Google Play on a desktop computer. The company first launched the program under a limit test in South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia. Later in August, it expanded it to all players in these countries in open beta. Google added that in the last couple of months it has added popular titles like “1945 Air Force,” “Blade Idle,” “Cookie Run: Kingdom,” and “Evony: The King’s Return” to the program with more games to be added soon. In August, Google also restructured the minimum requirements for systems that can run Google Play for PC. Originally, Google required an eight-core CPU, a “gaming-class GPU” and 20GB of available storage space. With the reduced requirements, users need a four-core CPU, an integrated GPU and 10GB of free storage on the system. Minimum system requirements for running Google Play Games on Windows Image Credits: Google “We’re thrilled to expand our platform to more markets for players to enjoy their favorite games on Google Play. As we move towards a full release, we will continue to add new features and evaluate developer and player feedback,” Arjun Dayal, Director, of Google Play Games said in a blog post. With this program, Google has made it possible for players can use their mouse and keyboard for inputs. Notably, it also started testing support for these inputs for Android games on ChromeOS in September. In a separate project, Microsoft has been working with Amazon to bring Android apps to Windows 11. In August, the company expanded this preview feature to users based in Japan. On the other hand, despite announcing the shutdown of its Stadia cloud gaming service, Google is still concentrating on bringing gaming to more players. In October, it introduced new Chromebooks tuned for cloud gaming with hardware makers like Acer, Asus and Lenovo.

Google pauses enforcement of Play Store billing requirement in India following antitrust order • ZebethMedia

By zebethcontrolPosted on November 1, 2022Posted in Android, Apps, Gaming, Google, Google Play, indiaNo Comments

Google is indefinitely pausing the enforcement of its policy requiring developers to use Play Store’s billing system for user transactions in India following an order by the country’s antitrust body. The Android maker on Tuesday updated a support page to disclose the move and said that the requirement to use Google Play’s billing system still applies for in-app purchases outside of India. Last week, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered Google not to restrict app developers from using third-party payment processing services for in-app purchases and purchasing apps through the Play Store. The antitrust watchdog also fined the company $113 million for abusing the dominant position of its Play Store in the country. “Following the CCI’s recent ruling, we are pausing enforcement of the requirement for developers to use Google Play’s billing system for the purchase of digital goods and services for transactions by users in India,” the company said, adding that it is reviewing its legal options in the country, suggesting it may challenge the competition regulator’s decision. Google had previously extended the deadline for following its Play Store billing requirement in the South Asian market until October 31. The regulator announced its decision after interviewing a number of industry players and smartphone makers, including Samsung, Xiaomi and Microsoft. It had also slapped another $162 million fine on Google for anti-competitive practices related to Android.