Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said in
June that Google's complete control over in-app payments unfairly restricted
developers by forcing them to use Google Play's billing system, reducing
competition and hurting users.
The CMA said on Wednesday that Google's proposals would
allow app developers to offer a different payment system "of their
choosing" or give users a choice between an alternative payment system and
Google Play's billing system.
Third-party payments providers could market their services
to app developers, as per the proposal.
"We need to make sure these commitments will work in
practice – so we welcome all feedback, which we will carefully consider before
making a final decision," said Ann Pope, senior director of antitrust at
the CMA.
Google said it had made the commitments after constructive
conversations with the regulator.
It said the roll out of user billing in Britain would build
on its experience of offering similar systems in the European Economic Area and
other parts of the world.
"Under the commitments, developers will be able to add
an alternative in-app billing system, alongside Google Play's billing system,
for their mobile and tablet users in the UK," Google said in a blog post.
"At checkout, users will be able to choose which
billing system to use."
The CMA invited comments on Google's proposals by May 19
before it makes a final judgment. © Reuters