Popular Indian Apps Restored At Google Play Store; Info Edge, Matrimony, Balaji Telefilms Stocks In Focus

After the government called out the world's largest search engine Google over the missing of popular Indian mobile applications from the tech's renowned Play Store, good news has arrived, not just for customers but also three listed companies. As per reports, Google has restored some of the Indian apps which were delisted on March 1 over non-payment of service fees. These popular apps also belonged to internet catalogue retail stocks like Info Edge, Matrimony, and Balaji Telefilms.

As per the PTI report, sources said reinstating some of the apps was not linked to the government's position but with the concerned apps complying with the Play Store Billing policies.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made a strong statement related to the delisting of Indian apps on Google's Play Store. He told PTI that the delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and that the tech company and startups concerned have been called for a meeting next week.

He also said that the startup ecosystem is key to the Indian economy and their fate cannot be left to any big tech to decide.

The renowned apps were Naukri.com, Naukri Recruiter, Naukrigulf, 99acres, Shiksha, Balaji Telefilms' Altt (formerly ALTBalaji), Shaadi, Matrimony.com, audio platform Kuku FM, dating service Quack Quack, and Bharat Matrimony Truly Madly were also deleted from Google's Play Store.

The action of Google comes after the Alphabet Inc-backed multinational corporation and technology company started imposing an 11-26% fee on in-app payments. The huge fees by Google come after the anti-competition body CCI announced the scrapping of 15-30% charges earlier.

Google went ahead to remove the apps not paying the fee after the Supreme Court did not provide interim relief to companies behind these apps in their battle against the search giant's app marketplace fee, PTI reported.

In a blog post which was updated on March 1, 2024, Google said, that Indian developers are finding global success with Google Play, and the Android and Play ecosystem collectively supported over 2.5 million jobs in India in 2022.

Google's blog added this success is a result of the investments we have made in our platforms, tools, and resources that have enabled developers to thrive. This also helps them invest in protections to safeguard users across the ecosystem, even for apps downloaded from outside of the Play Store - enabling a level of openness, developer choice, and vigilance unmatched by other platforms.

Further, the search engine said, "To sustain our efforts, Google Play charges a service fee when developers sell in-app digital goods. We've constantly evolved our business model in line with the needs of the ecosystem, always staying compliant with local regulations. Our tiered pricing programs benefit Indian developers: only 3% of developers in India sell digital goods or services and therefore need to pay a service fee, the vast majority of whom pay 15 per cent or less - the lowest of any major global app store."

"In fact, in India, less than 60 developers on Google Play are subject to fees above 15 per cent," Google's post said.

As per Google's data, there are over 200,000 Indian developers using Google Play who adhere to their policies, helping them ensure the company has a safe platform; however, for an extended period of time, 10 companies, including many well-established ones, have chosen to not pay for the immense value they receive on Google Play by securing interim protections from the court. It added, "These developers comply with payment policies of other app stores."

However, on Saturday, reports said that Google has started to reinstate popular Indian apps. Also, Info Edge's founder Sanjeev Bikhchandani said through his X handler, "Many of the Info Edge apps are back on the Play Store. An effort very well led by Hitesh and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night for this. Great crisis management."

Due to the delisting on Play Store, on March 1, Bikhchandani had said, "Indian companies will comply - for now. But what India needs is an App Store / Play Store that is a part of Digital Public Infrastructure - like UPI and ONDC. The response needs to be strategic."

Following the latest development, three digital stocks will be in focus next week. They are Info Edge, Balaji Telefilms, and MATRIMONY.Com.