Google Play deal frustrates critics of steep app developer fees

The settlement announced in a court filing and lauded by elected attorneys general who helped negotiate it will make it easier for developers to offer apps to consumers outside Google Play and use their own payment systems. But there’s a catch: the developers will still have to pay Google a service fee of as much as 26%. — AFP

Alphabet Inc’s agreement to pay US$700mil (RM3.25bil) to consumers and states and open the Google Play Store to competition will leave intact the heavily-criticised commissions the technology giant charges mobile app developers.

The settlement announced in a court filing and lauded by elected attorneys general who helped negotiate it will make it easier for developers to offer apps to consumers outside Google Play and use their own payment systems. But there’s a catch: the developers will still have to pay Google a service fee of as much as 26%.