Why Google Removed Indian Apps From it’s Play Store? | Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, Naukri- Google’s removal of popular Indian apps like Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, and Naukri from the Play Store in March 2024 stemmed from a dispute over billing policies.
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Google’s Claim: Google stated the apps violated Play Store billing policies. They argued their fees contribute to maintaining the app ecosystem.
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Indian Developers’ Claim: The developers contested this, claiming they complied with other app stores’ policies and felt Google was unfairly forcing its billing system and service fees. Why Google Removed Indian Apps From it’s Play Store? | Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, Naukri
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Antitrust Angle: This incident adds to an ongoing debate in India. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had passed an antitrust order against Google in 2022. Developers felt Google’s action defied the spirit of that order.
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Google Removed Some Famous Apps
| App Name | Category | Reason for Removal |
|---|---|---|
| Bharatmatrimony | Dating/Matchmaking | Fee Dispute |
| Truly Madly | Dating/Matchmaking | Fee Dispute |
| Quack Quack | Dating | Fee Dispute |
| Stage | OTT Platform | Fee Dispute |
| Kuku FM | OTT Podcast | Fee Dispute |
| 17 “SpyLoan” Apps | Finance | Malicious Activity (Spying on users) |
Which apps have been impacted?
oogle’s dispute with Indian app developers and the use of their billing system is accurate, the specific claim that Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, and Naukri were removed from the Play Store is inaccurate. Why Google Removed Indian Apps From it’s Play Store? | Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, Naukri
According to news reports from March 2024, Google reached agreements with the mentioned app developers and the apps remained available on the Play Store. While negotiations were ongoing, there were temporary disruptions impacting some users’ ability to access updates or make in-app purchases for these apps.
Why did Google remove these apps from its Play Store?
In fact, remove several Indian apps from the Play Store in March 2024. Google removed over a dozen Indian apps, including popular ones like Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, and Naukri, due to a dispute over service fees. Why Google Removed Indian Apps From it’s Play Store? | Bharat Matrimony, 99Acres, Naukri
How have these companies responded?
Many companies, including Bharat Matrimony, publicly criticized Google’s decision, calling it an unfair practice and highlighting the high fees charged by the tech giant. Some, like Kuku FM, even labeled Google as an “evil partner” and expressed concerns about the company’s dominance in the Android ecosystem.
Some companies, like Bharat Matrimony, explored legal options, considering Google’s actions to be a violation of an ongoing antitrust order from the Competition Commission of India (CCI) which aimed to promote fair competition in the app market.
The affected companies, while facing challenges due to the sudden removal, looked for alternative solutions to reach their users. Some explored hosting their apps on alternative app stores like the newly launched Indus App Store in India, while others focused on their websites and other online channels.
