Google is spinning the narrative that its updated app payments policy is nothing new. That’s not true. This is both new and a big deal.
The question of who controls the app economy and how is one of the defining battles in the raging debate around the power of big tech platforms. On Monday, Alphabet Inc owned Google issued an announcement that opened up an entirely new front in the fight over app stores.
A quick recap of the news: Google is updating its policies to now demand a 30% of all subscriptions and payments made inside any digital content or services app that is published on its Play Store for Android phones and tablets. The company already takes 30% for any paid app sold …
Ashish is the editor-in-chief of The Morning Context. One of the best-known business feature writers in India, he was selected for Germany’s Robert Bosch Stiftung Fellowship in 2012 and received the Mumbai Press Club RedInk certificate of recognition in 2015 for his story “Inside the Network 18 takeover”. Before joining The Morning Context, Ashish co-founded The Ken, where he was managing editor. His previous writing stints include Mint, Forbes India and The Economic Times.
Editor-in-chief
ashish@mailtmc.com
London
Harveen is a co-founder at The Morning Context, and leads our Internet coverage, overseeing a team of reporters writing on startups and tech. She has previously worked as a media, consumer and tech reporter at The Ken and Mint. At The Morning Context, she writes on startups, venture capital, consumer and media businesses—from e-commerce to healthtech to streaming.
Editor, Internet
harveen@mailtmc.com
Mumbai
Pranav is a co-founder at The Morning Context and used to lead the edit team here. He has previously worked as a writer and editor at The Ken and Mint, where he worked on business news from tech to banking to deals. At The Morning Context, he helps manage editorial operations, edits and commissions long-form stories, and writes at the intersections of technology, business and finance.
Head of Desk
pranav@mailtmc.com
Bengaluru