Google has left no stones unturned in pushing Apple to adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) that the search giant argues will improve cross-platform communication. With little to no luck so far, Google is marching ahead with things that are within its power: Supercharging its RCS client Messages on Android with new features to make lives a little easier for those on the other side of the green bubbles. Google’s Messages is adding a slew of new features… Source link
Read More »Google Messages adds reaction support for iPhone texts and in-app reminders • TechCrunch
Google has left no stones unturned in pushing Apple to adopt the Rich Communication Services (RCS) that the search giant argues will improve cross-platform communication. With little to no luck so far, Google is marching ahead with things that are within its power: supercharging its RCS client Messages on Android with new features to make lives a little easier for those on the other side of the green bubbles. Google’s Messages is adding a slew of new features… Source link
Read More »South Korea to probe Apple and Google over in-app payment rule break – TechCrunch
South Korea’s communication watchdog, the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), said Tuesday it will investigate Apple and Google over potential violations of the country’s in-app payment rule. Local media reports noted that the agency will start this investigation on August 16. Apart from Apple and Google, the KCC is also investigating SK Group’s homegrown app store called ONE Store. The watchdog said that it had looked into the practices of all three app… Source link
Read More »Kakao says emoji subscription purchases fell by a third due to Google’s new in-app policy – TechCrunch
The number of emoji subscription purchases on the South Korean messaging app KakaoTalk has dropped by a third over the year, parent firm Kakao said in quarterly earnings call Thursday, blaming Google’s new in-app payment policy, which forces apps to use Android-maker’s own billing system. KakaoTalk’s Emoticon Plus subscription service, which costs approximately $3.8 per month, allows users to access unlimited emojis. TechCrunch reported in June that South… Source link
Read More »South Korean content providers raise service fees in the wake of Google’s in-app payment policy – TechCrunch
South Korean app developers and content providers are upping their paid subscription and service fees on Google’s Play marketplace due to the heavy 15-30% commissions now required following Google’s policy changes that force apps to use its own first-party billings and payments system. While South Korean law permits app developers to use a third-party payment option, this only reduces Google’s commission by 4% — and that’s not enough, developers… Source link
Read More »Google Play adopts App Store-like features including in-app events and custom product pages – TechCrunch
At Google’s I/O developer conference, the company rolled out a series of updates for Android app developers who publish to Google Play. Among these were two high-profile changes to its Google Play app marketplace, custom store listings and in-app events, which follow updates Apple made to its own App Store just last year. Google had been offering A/B testing for product page enhancements since 2015 — a feature that allows developers to see which text and graphics would best convert… Source link
Read More »Match Group is suing Google over Android’s in-app payment monopoly
Match Group, the company behind popular dating apps such as Tinder, Match, and OkCupid, is suing Google over its restrictive billing policies on the Play Store. In its complaint, Match Group claims Google “illegally monopolized the market for distributing apps” on Android by forcing apps to use Google’s own billing system and then taking a cut of the payments. Match Group’s complaint plays off an earlier lawsuit Epic Games filed against Apple in 2020, alleging that Apple engaged… Source link
Read More »Google to Allow Alternative In-App Payments for Spotify Users, a New Step in App Battle
Spotify Technology SA has reached a deal with Google to offer an alternative payment method within its app for users, the latest sign of the weakening grip that app stores have over third-party software. The streaming music service and Alphabet Inc.’s search giant announced the deal Wednesday, allowing Spotify’s SPOT 0.75% app within the… Source link
Read More »Google outlines plans for first alternative in-app payments in South Korea
Google has announced changes it will make to its in-app payments options in South Korea — a significant step back for the tech giant as governments around the world seek to curb the control Google and Apple wield over their mobile ecosystems. In a blog post, Google says it will allow third-party payment options for in-app purchases to appear alongside its own Google Play billing system in Android apps. The company will still charge developers a commission if users pay using a… Source link
Read More »Google says Fortnite’s in-app purchase swap was a breach of contract, sues Epic
Epic Games Epic Games keeps piling up lawsuits with app store owners. This time, Google is countersuing Epic for breach of contract. Epic vs. Apple/Google View more stories Epic signed contracts with both Google and Apple, pledging to use the default payment systems for in-app purchases. As part of its push for more open payment systems, though (and to dodge each platform’s 30 percent fee), Epic boldly
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