Google expands payment system selection test in its Play Store

Google is expanding the payment system selection test in its Play Store. It is notably available in the United States, another application is also concerned.

Integrating alternative payment platforms is no small feat. This needs to be done gradually, especially in an infrastructure as important and used as the Google Play Store. The pilot program will debut in the US today. Mountain View allows users in the US, Brazil, and South Africa to choose which payment system they want to use when making in-app purchases.

Google expands payment system selection test in its Play Store

There are also more applications involved in the opening of this test. In addition to Spotify, which started an early rollout of payment options this week, Bumble is joining the party. The dating app will allow its users to choose their preferred payment system in certain countries in “coming months”.

Switching through an alternative payment platform reduces the fees charged by the American giant by 4%, according to official documents. In other words, the latter always takes 11 or 26% of every transaction made through these systems. However, in response to TechCrunch, Spotify said that its deal with Google lived up to their expectations of fairness. However, we don’t know if Spotify was able to take advantage of any special terms.

It is especially available in the United States.

The trials were first announced in March last year. In September, Google announced that a driver for users in Australia, the European Economic Area, India, Indonesia, and Japan would be available in the Play Store. Google explains that they have the first “positive”feedback from developers and users who have been able to take advantage of this.

This experimentation is by no means altruistic. Like Apple, Google is under pressure from regulators and politicians who believe that the creators of mobile operating systems are abusing their position by preventing users from making payments in applications. It’s no secret that major developers and media companies, including Spotify, Epic Games and The New York Times, have joined forces to demand the possibility of using alternative payment systems. Bumble’s main competitor, Match Group, even decided to sue Google for violating competition laws. In theory, this test should help Google avoid (or at least mitigate) the potential fines and burdensome legal obligations it could incur.