Paytm takes on Google, launches its own mini-app store

Team Udayavani, Oct 5, 2020, 11:51 AM IST

Bengaluru: Paytm on Monday said it has launched Android Mini App Store as part of its attempts to break Google’s monopoly over distribution of Android apps.

Mini apps are a custom-built mobile website that gives users app-like experience without having to download them.

Paytm said it is providing listing and distribution of these mini-apps within its app without any charges. For payments, developers will be able to give a choice of Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank, UPI, net-banking and Cards to their users.

The company said it provides Paytm wallet, Paytm Payments Bank account and UPI at zero charges and levies a 2 per cent charge for other instruments like credit cards.

The local Indian app store aims to drive the Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission while keeping the digital consumer spends within India, it added.

More than 300 app-based service providers such as Decathalon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino”s Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the program. The app store has been running in beta with select users and witnessed over 12 million visits in the month of September.

“I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer. Paytm Mini App Store empowers our young Indian developers to leverage our reach and payments to build new innovative services.”

“For Paytm users, it will be a seamless experience that doesn’t require any separate download and enables them to use their preferred payment option,” Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder and CEO of Paytm, said.

The development comes days after the rollout of Google’s new Play billing system and also after Google had blocked Paytm from its Play Store for a few hours for violating its policy on sports betting activities. The app was later restored after the fintech app removed the ”cashback” feature linked to a game on the app.

Paytm had alleged that it was “arm-twisted” by the search engine major to comply with its biased Play Store policies “that are meant to artificially create Google’s market dominance”. Food delivery apps Zomato and Swiggy have also received notices from Google for their in-app gamification features that allegedly violate Play Store guidelines.