Billing

Samuel Stolton / Politico: Sources: European Commission antitrust enforcers are investigating Google's Play Store rules, sending rivals questionnaires on billing terms and developer fees — The European Commission's antitrust enforcers are investigating Google's app store rules, according to two people close to the matter. Samuel Stolton / Politico: Sources: European Commission antitrust enforcers are investigating Google's Play Store rules, sending rivals questionnaires on billing terms and…

WASHINGTON—The federal government’s student loan servicing contractors have been instructed to hold off on sending billing statements ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline for ending the pandemic freeze on loan payments, giving companies little time to start loan collection processes if payments resume.The future of the federal student loan portfolio is in limbo as President Biden considers whether to cancel a limited amount of debt for borrowers whose incomes fall under a certain threshold. The president and his advisers have…

Google will start allowing the developers of non-gaming apps in the European Economic Area (EEA) to offer alternate payment systems. In a blog post, Google outlines its plans to comply with the Digital Markets Act (or DMA), a piece of legislation aimed at regulating big tech. The DMA passed through the European Parliament earlier this month, but it isn’t expected to go into force until spring 2023. But Google is rolling out the changes ahead of time to make sure that its plans “serve the needs” of users. The…

Google has blocked Play Store updates to the popular messaging app KakaoTalk in South Korea for refusing to comply with its billing policy. The app will remain functional but the developers won’t be able to push updates to it through Play Store. It is the first victim of Google’s enforced Play policy in South Korea, local publication News1 reports (via).The Play policy in question here is the one that requires developers to use Google’s first-party billing system for in-app purchases in apps distributed through Play…

Google has offered to put $90 million on the table to settle a brewing conflict between it and a number of Android developers. As Reuters reports, the issue centers around the mandatory use of Google’s in-house payments platform, with its fixed 30 percent cut. Developers feel that Google had worked behind the scenes to close off the options for alternative payment systems. It’s prompted the search giant to offer a settlement to avoid “years of uncertain and distracting litigation.” In a statement, Google said that, if the…

Google has officially announced that it will no longer accept AT&T carrier billing on the Play Store.Using carrier billing for payments on Google Play is an excellent way for users to streamline their bills and get the costs on a monthly statement. This will reduce the need for linking credit cards or using other payment methods available. However, the end of the honeymoon between Google and AT&T seems to prevent customers from using Google’s carrier billing program.As per the announcement of Google’s support…

Sony and Honda have officially signed a joint venture agreement to establish a company to build electric cars together. The new company will be called “Sony Honda Mobility Inc.,” notably giving Sony top billing over the established automaker. The company will also focus on “mobility services,” building on Sony’s January announcement of the formation of “Sony Mobility, Inc.” Sony Honda Mobility Inc. will be formed this year, and plans to start sales of both their first EV and “provision of services for mobility” in…

Katie Jennings / Forbes: NY-based Capital Rx, whose software lets employers, unions, and insurers handle claims processing and billing for prescription drugs, raises a $106M Series C — The Federal Trade Commission took aim at the prescription drug middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers last week … Katie Jennings / Forbes: NY-based Capital Rx, whose software lets employers, unions, and insurers handle claims processing and billing for prescription drugs, raises a $106M Series C …

Google’s legal battle with Tinder-owner Match Group over Play Store billing has received a significant setback. Match said in a press release that Google will relax some of its billing requirements, thus allowing apps like Hinge, Tinder, etc, to remain on the Play Store. Google will also have to “approve Match Group app updates,” the statement says.Match Group sued Google earlier this month over the enforcement of the new Play Store billing policyMatch Group issued a press release confirming that it has withdrawn the…

Image for representation. (Image source: Reuters)A Twitter user, in a series of tweets, has unearthed a rather evident discrepancy in Ola's billing of outstation rides.A Twitter user, in a series of tweets, has unearthed a rather evident discrepancy in Ola’s billing of outstation rides. The user in question who goes by kingslyj on Twitter first mentioned the two alternative routes that the Ola app suggested while travelling from Bangalore to Mysore. The user states that he regularly takes the same route and this was when…