Google is expanding its User Choice Payments (UCB) pilot program with Spotify among the first participants. It now officially allows music platform customers to set up service payments outside of Google’s Play Store.
Come back in March, Google partnered with Spotify to launch the program by giving people the ability to use different payment options. UCB is first available to users in Japan, Australia and some European countries. It will now come to the US, Brazil and South Africa after Google has “A positive response and [feedback]”From the first round (opens in a new tab). In the coming weeks, Spotify will roll out a third-party payment option only for Android users, so they can choose how they want to pay for their Premium subscription.
Open and fair platform
After launch, those who want to subscribe to Spotify Premium will see another option to use the platform’s own service instead (opens in a new tab). The main difference so far is that you can’t track your subscription on Spotify’s payment service, while you can with Google. Other than that, it’s business as usual: you enter your credit card information to pay, and you’re done.
Google is now allowing other non-game apps on the Play Store enroll in the UCB . pilot program (opens in a new tab). Developers must follow certain UX guidelines (opens in a new tab) created by Google detailing how to implement the feature. Considering the guidelines, developers must include information pages and payment options whenever a user tries to purchase a service. The price shown is also upfront and in the middle.
The full list of UCB participants is still unknown, but we do know that dating app Bumble will be joining the program soon “in select countries.” [within] coming months. ”
Spotify Says They Won UCB Because They Treat The Show As “Google” [allowing] more selection and competition” on the Play Store. The company wants a fairer platform for apps to thrive and “provide users” [the free service] the ability to register and purchase directly [on the] application.”
We asked what Google hopes to achieve with UCB for specific users, along with why gaming apps are currently excluded from the program. This story will be updated if we respond.
The future of app stores
As for Apple and its popular App Store, we really doubt users will see anything remotely resembling UCB. Apple has made it clear that it doesn’t like third-party payment options on the App Store. It was recently forced Telegram to catch iOS users make paid posts because tech giants don’t take a cut. And then there’s Apple’s 2021 court battle with Epic Games after Apple removed Fortnite from the App Store for similar actions.
Change, though, may be inevitable. The Open Market Act is a proposed antitrust bill intended to prevent both Google and Apple from “engaging in conduct harmful to their competitors”. Google seems poised to play better, but it remains to be seen if and when Apple will decide to do the same.
