A Meta Variant: Creating Distraction
November 11, 2021
Is this play a trial balloon?
India is one of the growing hotbeds for technology innovation. Google has business interests in India and Daily Hunt explains that, “Google’s Recent Move To Cut Play Store SubscriptionFees A ‘Distraction Tactic’: ADIF.” The Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF) says Google’s reduction on Play Store commissions from 30% to 15% is a tactic to “deflect and distract.”
The ADIF is an organization interested in protecting Indian digital startups from unfair practices. The plan to drop commissions on January 1, 2022 only happened, because developers pressured Google. Developers criticized Google for its steep fees. ADIF Executive Director Sijo Kuruvilla George claims Google lowering the commission rate is not an act of kindness, but only an attempt to distract developers from the lack of fair competition in India’s app market:
‘As long as Google gets to unilaterally dictate prices and people don’t have choices, it’s still a Lagaan – be it 30, 15 or even 2, the percentages do not matter. Deflect and distract seems to be what’s in play here. The portrayal and grandstanding, as a measure that fully acknowledges and addresses the concerns of developers, is misleading and objectionable,’ he said.”
Google also requires Indian app developers to adopt their billing system in March 2022. System integration and re-onboarding customers creates more work for the developers and their profits would diminish even with the drop to a 15% commission. The ADIF wants fair market competition and Google to allow alternate distribution of apps other than Google Play on Android OS.
Whitney Grace, November 11, 2021
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