Google announced that it eventually allows developers to select the billing system that they want to use in applications distributed on Google Play. The change affects the UK customers, but it has been implemented in other markets as well.
For now, the new billing option is only available to non-game developers and will begin on March 29. Developers who choose can provide a different billing method to their users, but will not completely replace Google Play’s billing system.
However, if users decide to use an alternative billing system, developers will avoid a fee of up to 30% on the transaction, which collects Google.
But don’t think for a second that this is voluntary. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK launched an investigation against the Google and Apple Pal in 2022, and found that the two tech giants could limit the selection of users and developers by allowing third-party billing methods.
Google agreed to offer the option of its billing system, so the investigation is closed. That is why we are finally seeing this happening.
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