ACTION PUNJAB NEWS Desk: Google will restore the Indian apps it deleted due to a billing dispute, the company announced on Tuesday, reversing its stance in response to government and local internet startup pushback.
The US company removed more than 100 Indian apps on Friday, including popular ones from Matrimony.com, for failing to comply with its policy of charging a service fee when in-app payment options other than Google’s were used.
“In the spirit of cooperation, we are temporarily reinstating the apps of the developers with appeals pending in the Supreme Court,” Google said.
The decision was made following a closed-door meeting between Google India head Sanjay Gupta and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The app removals sparked outrage among Indian companies, many of which have been at odds with Google for years.
The dispute revolves around efforts by some Indian startups to prevent Google from imposing an 11%-26% fee on in-app payments after the country’s antitrust authorities ordered it not to enforce an earlier fee of 15%-30%. The startups have challenged Google’s policy in courts, including the Supreme Court, as well as before the antitrust watchdog.
“We believe that in the coming months, both the start-up community as well as Google would be able to come to a long-term resolution,” Ashwini Vaishnaw said after meeting.
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