EU antitrust regulators have requested app builders whether or not Alphabet unit Google’s risk to take away apps from its Play Store in the event that they use different fee choices as an alternative of its personal billing system has damage their enterprise, two folks aware of the matter instructed Reuters.

Critics say charges charged by Google and Apple at their cell app shops are extreme and value builders collectively billions of {dollars} a yr, an indication of the 2 corporations’ monopoly energy.

Questionnaires have been despatched to builders final month, the folks stated.

Of the 16 questions within the doc, some lined the interval 2017-2021 and others 2019-2021. The European Commission declined to remark. Google didn’t reply to an emailed request for remark.

The US tech large has stated apps could be faraway from its app retailer beginning June this yr if builders don’t use its billing system.

Respondents have been requested whether or not Google’s coverage change this yr impacted the distribution of their items or providers on Google Play Store, which apps have been affected and if it affected their skill to amass customers on Android units, the folks stated.

Regulators wished to know if the change has pressured builders to drop different fee choices in favour of Google Billing and whether or not migrating customers to a different fee choice affected the variety of pre-existing customers and the builders’ entry to knowledge.

Developers have been requested whether or not they believed they might provide a greater service or product if they’ve the choice of one other fee system.

The EU competitors enforcer additionally wished to know if Google allowed them to make use of an alternate fee system, charged a service price for this or complained concerning the safety of their fee methodology.

App builders have been requested if US funds large Stripes, Dutch fee system Adyen and PayPal unit Braintree are seen as various fee programs.

Last month, Google stated non-gaming app builders can swap to rival fee programs with a decrease price of 12 % as an alternative of 15 %, with the transfer making use of to European customers, in an effort to adjust to EU guidelines that can come into drive subsequent yr.

Politico first reported concerning the Commission’s question.

© Thomson Reuters 2022