Paytm has lifted challenge to Google’s Play Store by launching its Android Mini App Store.
Through this, it seeks to help developers take their applications to the masses. This is the start-up’s latest move to break Google’s monopoly over the distribution of Android applications.
Paytm provides listing and distribution of these mini-apps from within its app, without applying any charge.
Developers would now be able to give a choice of Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank, UPI, net banking, and card payments to users.
These mini-applications are custom-built mobile websites that give users an app-like experience without requiring an actual download, which would benefit millions of users by helping them save their data and memory.
This invents weeks after Google pulled down the Paytm app from its Play Store temporarily, by citing violation of its gambling policies.
Food delivery firms Zomato and Swiggy have also hit the pause button on their sports-based cashback games after the tech giant sent them notices for violating Play Store policies associating sports betting activities.
Zomato has termed as ‘unfair.’ Media reports suggest that Indian start-up founders have joined hands to create an alternative indigenous app store.
Paytm created the digital infrastructure to help small developers and businesses by setting up low-cost and quick-to-build apps that can be built using HTML and javascript tech.
The company is advising the option to pay via Paytm wallet, Paytm Payments Bank, and UPI at zero charges while levying a 2 percent charge for other instruments.
Paytm’s Mini App Store offers direct access to discover, browse, and play without downloading or installing separate apps.
More than 300 app-based service providers such as Decathalon, Ola, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, and Domino’s Pizza have joined the initiative.
“Paytm Mini App Store empowers our young Indian developers to leverage our reach and payments to build new innovative services. For Paytm users, it will be a seamless experience that doesn’t require separate downloads and enables them to use their preferred payment option,” said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, co-founder, and chief executive officer of Paytm.
Last week, Google declared all apps selling digital goods within the Play Store had to use its billing system, which allows the tech giant to collect a percentage of in-app purchases.
Non-compliant apps that require technical work to integrate the billing system have been provided a year to complete any needed updates.
