The United Kingdom government is investigating Apple’s and Google’s respective mobile businesses and app stores for iPhone and Android.
UK investigating if Apple amassed too much power in mobile app stores
Play Store
Spark and PDF Expert maker Readdle terminates app sales and support in Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine
All Readdle apps available in the Russian App Store and Google Play have now been removed in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Google confirms changes to comply with South Korean law requiring alternative billing options, Apple remains quiet
We are almost through the first week of November 2021, and it looks like Apple is doing everything it can to drag its feet when it comes to a brand new requirement regarding third-party billing options in the Play Store. This new law was passed by the government in South Korea, and Google was swept up in the action as well. The difference is, Google's set forth a plan to make those changes. Apple? Not so much.
Google lowers Play Store fees for subscription and music streaming apps to 15%
The landscape for digital storefronts is changing quite a bit. That is thanks, at least in part, to a lot of outside voices demanding those changes. Apple, for its part, remains reluctant to make any sweeping changes that don't ultimately benefit the company. But, it has made some changes, and there appear to be even more in the works. Meanwhile, Google has had to make some changes to its Play Store, too, and today marks the arrival of yet another.
Apple pushes back against South Korean bill that would bar Apple and Google from requiring developers use their payment systems
There is a lot of attention on how Google and Apple handle their respective digital storefronts. Some of that attention is all about making changes -- especially when it comes to Apple's App Store. And it looks like one bill from a major economy could set the stage for future change across the board. Which Apple is obviously not too pleased with.
Microsoft Store on Windows 11 is helping the creator economy avoid Apple’s App Store tax
The Microsoft Store on Windows 11 is introducing noteworthy new features which were clearly designed to put more money in creators’ pockets, directly challenging Apple's business model.
Unsurprisingly, Apple’s privacy “nutrition labels” are coming to app listings on Google Play
Not to be outdone by rival Apple which has successfully weaponized privacy, the search monster Google will be adding privacy “nutrition labels” to Google Play's app listing.
Apple ‘abruptly’ refuses to testify in upcoming Senate app stores hearing
In April, there will be a hearing on digital markets, including app stores and digital competition, led by the Senate Judiciary Committee in the United States. And while Apple has been engaged in preliminary talks, it looks like the company has made a decision regarding being a witness.
Google will reduce Play Store commissions to 15% for developers who earn their first $1 million per year
It took long enough, but Google has finally decided to follow along with Apple's own commissions associated with its digital storefront.
Apple Music for Android gains Listen Now, crossfade, new sharing options and more
Apple today updated its Apple Music for Android client with new capabilities like a crossfade feature which Apple supports in the Music app for macOS but not in its iOS counterpart.
Google is reportedly going to update Play Store guidelines to better emphasize its own billing system with 30% fee [Updated]
Apple gets most of the attention when it comes to digital app stores and any associated fees, but the company is not alone. Google has similar policies, and now the company may be ready to lean into them even more.
Facebook ends its controversial Research app, pulls Onavo VPN spyware for Android
Following scandalous revelations that it was using the Research and Onavo Protect apps to spy on unsuspecting Apple users, the social network has now ended its unpaid market research programs and removed Onavo VPN for Android from Google's Play store, too.