Indian Startups are rallying for an indigenous App Store against Google and Apple

Main Image
  • Like
  • Comment
  • Share

Paytm, MakeMyTrip, PolicyBazaar, and other Indian startups are plotting an alternative app store to the ones from Google and Apple. Apparently, dozens of execs from top Indian startups have agreed to this over a conference call held earlier this week.

Although it seems like retaliation to Google’s temporary ban of Paytm stating the breach of the Play Store Gambling policies, there’s a major play here. This will very likely safeguard and promote local developers as a part of the country’s Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) initiative.

ALSO READ: Google Pixel 4a to launch in India on Oct 17

“Android has a 97% market share in India. So, we should intervene and handhold Indian startups,” according to government sources, as cited by ET Now.

Fresh reports suggest the current government’s Mobile Seva App Store would be overhauled for this purpose. And it may bring in the local apps and services to its fold. The government sources have also ensured that developers would be relieved of the 30% tax, they currently pay to Google and Apple. Moreover, it is also planning to enforce the Android OEMs to pre-bundle its app suite on their phones.

ALSO READ: Jio Rs 4000 phone coming soon? Orbic RC545L phone with SD 215 and Android 10 listed on Google Play Console

Lately, the two app store goliaths have been facing heat for their stringent commission and regulatory policies. The contentious 30-percent app store cut became a hot topic in tech news ever since the Epic Apple dispute broke out. And just the other day, the Silicon Valley giant made headlines over its decision to make Google Pay Billing System mandatory for in-app store purchases. This means it’ll be levying the same cut from all these transactions going forward.

So, if the band of Indian startups is able to build the envisioned app store, it might act as a boon to the entire app ecosystem. Let’s see how it all pans out.

Sources: Economic Times | Techcrunch

Vasan G.S.Vasan G.S.
An inquisitive mind who spends a big chunk of the day keenly tracking every emerging detail and is responsible for quickly passing on important developments to Smartprix followers. He loves to stay in his bubble scripting his destiny involving amazing technology and people with good character, passion, and brilliance.

Related Articles

ImageQualcomm’s Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 Chip Brings Generative AI to Affordable Phones

Qualcomm, a leading smartphone chipset manufacturer, has launched a new SoC for – Snapdragon 8S Gen 3. This new offering aims to provide flagship-level performance at a more affordable price, making advanced features like on-device generative AI accessible to a wider range of consumers. The Snapdragon 8S Gen 3 is positioned as a tier below …

ImagePaytm App Disappears From Google Play Store: Here’s Why

Google has pulled Paytm, one of the biggest payment apps in India, from its Play store for policy violation. The app is currently unavailable for download on Google’s app store but is working if you already have it up and running. Paytm repeatedly violated Google’s policy by redirecting users to external links to unregulated gambling …

ImageHow To Block PayTM, Google Pay & PhonePe UPI if the Phone is Stolen or Lost

Call it the advent of UPI and it won’t surprise you because UPI has taken the world by storm. The proprietary technology developed in India, UPI is a great mode of payment where you just have to enter the UPI ID or scan a barcode, and bingo, the payment goes through provided you have entered …

ImageApple Acquires DarwinAI To Checkmate Google and Microsoft

Apple has made a strategic acquisition by taking over AI startup DarwinAI to strengthen its on-device AI capabilities and take on the likes of Google and Microsoft. While tech giants like Google and Microsoft have made strides in offering AI models that run on both cloud and devices, Apple’s acquisition of DarwinAI could give the …

ImageApple To Charge “Core Technology Fee” From Developers, Announces Major App Store Changes

In September 2023, the European Union declared Apple as one of the gatekeepers. As part of the DMA, the EU directed the company to make changes to its App Store to enable the sideloading of apps and allow third-party payments. The deadline for Apple, along with other companies, is March 7, 2024. However, as of …

Discuss

Be the first to leave a comment.

Related Products