Google has made some
changes to its developer policies and has promised to make third-party app
stores more accessible on Android 12. The change is a direct response to the
concerns regarding android app development, which includes dispute over
alternate in-app payment systems. In addition, the problems faced by businesses
as they move online due to the pandemic.

If you’re an android
user, you may already know that it has access to third-party stores like
Samsung’s Galaxy Store. However, Google asserts that this new feature will
allow users to process things far more easily on other devices without having
to compromise on their safety. More details will be shared in the future.

The access to
third-party stores shouldn’t be considered as a release of grip for the Play
Store payments. In fact, the company has confessed that all developers that are
selling digital goods will be required to utilize Google Play Store’s billing
system. Hence, all apps that may not already be using the efficient system of
digital goods are now required to add it by default.  

This is a turning point
for Epic Games (Fortnite was kicked off the Play Store App earlier this year),
as the alternate billing option opens up new doors for the fans. As of now, the
game is only available via third-party stores and Epic’s website.

Henceforth, if
developers and Google fail to fall on the same page, they can distribute on the
Android platform. 

Let’s not forget the
most complicated in-app purchase category: Businesses that went digital during
the pandemic. This specific category includes companies like Airbnb and
ClassPass as they have complained that they are being mandated to pay the fee
for the iOS service. Apple has actually waived its fees for certain
circumstances.

Google has also
mentioned that the aforementioned businesses do not necessarily have to shift
and start using Android Google Play billing; at least not
in the near future.

“We
recognize that the global pandemic has resulted in many businesses having to
navigate the challenges of moving their physical business to digital and
engaging customers in a new way, for example, moving in-person experiences and
classes online. For the next 12 months, these businesses will not need to
comply with our payments policy, and we will continue to reassess the situation
over the next year.” – Google said in the press release.