HIGHLIGHTS
Paytm has announced the launch of its Android Mini App Store to support Indian startups and developers.
Paytm is not going to charge the developers for listing and distribution of mini-apps within its app.
Google has extended the timeline for developers to comply with its payment method to March 31, 2022.
Digital payments firm Paytm has launched a mini-app store to support Indian developers, in a direct challenge to Google’s dominance in the space.
According to Paytm’s press release, the Mini App store has been designed to help small developers and businesses in India to set up low-cost and easy-to-build apps using HTML and Javascript. These apps open within a window inside the Paytm app itself, and the listings will also be free, Paytm said.
The development comes just weeks after Paytm’s app was blocked from Google Play Store for a few hours for violating the latter’s policy on sports betting activities.
Paytm is providing listing and distribution of these mini-apps within its app without any charges and for payments, developers will be able to give a choice of Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank, UPI, net-banking and Cards to their users, Paytm said in a statement on Monday.
However, there is a 2 per cent charge (plus GST) levied by the company when payment is made using a credit card, debit card and net banking.
To access the Mini App Store, open your Paytm app, On the home page, click on Show More > Mini App Store from the pop-up menu.
The portal allows direct access to users to explore, use, and make payments through the apps, without any additional downloads or installs.
This may turn out to be a big boon for local businesses as they don’t want to spend big on apps and clearly don’t want to give Google a 30 per cent cut on their in-app purchases.
At the time of the launch, there are 300 mini-apps on the Paytm mini app store already. The list of these apps includes big names like Domino’s, NetMeds, Decathlon, Ola, Rapido, etc.
Other apps like Zomato and Swiggy were also not happy with Google’s new guidelines as they paused their sports-based cashback which was popular especially during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
Paytm founder & CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said, “I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer.
Google, on the other hand, noted that it is a setting a timeline of 31st March 2022 for all apps that currently use an alternative payment system.
Google also put forth some points to clear the confusion among users with regards to Payments and billing methods through Google. “Google Play billing is a billing system that supports many ways for consumers to pay — today Play’s billing supports more than 290 forms of payment globally.
Over the last several years we have added more local forms of payment in India including credit and debit cards, net banking, carrier billing, gift cards, and all supported UPI apps. And we will continue to engage with developers and consumers on adding additional forms of payment,” Google noted.
Google’s policy requires developers who distribute their apps on Play to use Google Play’s billing system if they offer in-app purchases of digital goods.
It also demands a 30 per cent cut for the listing of the apps on Play. Google noted that the payment method is not new and that more than 97 per cent of developers with apps on Google Play already comply with the policy.
Google further added that it is adding listening sessions, policy workshops and extension in the time given to developers to get used to the Google Play billing system.