Google disclosed in March 2022 that it was working on a pilot initiative called “User Choice Billing” that would permit developers to utilise various billing systems for subscription models in place of Google Play’s billing system. The trial programme will now be extended to India as well as Australia, Indonesia, Japan, and the European Economic Area, according to a recent announcement by the corporation.
Developers of non-gaming mobile or tablet apps who are registered businesses are eligible for this pilot programme. Non-game developers from all over the world are welcome to participate in the trial if they want to give users of mobile and tablet devices in these five regions another way to pay for their apps.
Developers are required to pay Google the essential service fees, according to the business.The developer’s service cost is reduced by 4% when a customer chooses an alternative billing scheme.
As was already mentioned, Spotify has already worked with Google, and they’ll be fusing Google Play’s invoicing system with their own. In response to widespread criticism of the ways in which its app store does business, Google made this choice.
According to Sameer Samat, vice president of product management at Google, on the User Choice Billing pilot programme,
Regarding the User Choice Billing pilot programme, Sameer Samat, Vice President, Product Management, Google said,
This pilot will allow a small number of participating developers to offer an additional billing option next to Google Play’s billing system and is designed to help us explore ways to offer this choice to users, while maintaining our ability to invest in the ecosystem. This is a significant milestone and the first on any major app store — whether on mobile, desktop, or game consoles.