In a new report, we learn that some popular Indian matrimony apps are to leave the Google Play Store soon. Aside from these apps, there are also a few other apps that might face the same fate in the coming weeks. All of this is a result of the fight against charges on in-app payments, which the providers of these apps consider to be outrageous.
While these apps see the in-app payment charges that Google poses on them as being unfair, the Silicon Valley company has the legal backing to place such charges. A few weeks ago, the Indian Supreme Court ordered that Google place these charges on Indian-owned apps that exist on its platform. However, the court decision reduced the charge from 15-30% down to 11-26% to give startups some breathing room.
Indian matrimony app service providers like Matrimony.com and Info Edge are taking the hit from these Play Store in-app payment charges. These companies are currently running in losses. Matrimony.com on its part has seen a 2.7% fall in its shares. As for the shares of its counterpart Info Edge, they have gone down 1.5% which is telling on its business.
These are huge losses on the part of these big Indian matrimony service providers. For a while now, these firms have opted out of paying the in-app payment charge whilst making use of Google’s services. Google also notes that these are not the only Indian firms that have defaulted in their payments of in-app purchases for a while.
These fees in question are channelled towards making the service more accessible for all. However, most Indian startups are not buying the idea of paying Google a certain percentage of the in-app payments that come to their apps. In the coming weeks, we might see the removal of these Indian matrimony apps as well as other defaulters from the Play Store.