“App Developers’ Worry: Google Is Now Charging Five Times More.”

A study into allegations that Google abused its market dominance to impose unfair pricing has been ordered by the competition authority.

Due to the antitrust watchdog in India ordering an investigation into Google’s pricing practices, the tech giant found itself in more serious legal difficulties.

The agency claimed that Google had applied its regulations in a “discriminatory manner.”The Indian Competition Commission stated on Friday that it will investigate Google’s pricing strategy and report its findings within 60 days, but it will not render a decision or apply fines right now.

Because of the watchdog’s prior findings and the company’s issues with the local app ecosystem, Google, the leading mobile operating platform in India, is likely to be affected more broadly by the CCI’s decision.

CCI claimed that Google’s standards discriminated between physical and digital services provided through apps on the Google Play app marketplace in a 21-page order on Friday, a copy of which Mint has seen.Applications that provide services like food delivery, ride-hailing, or online shopping are free of charge on Google.

However, there are costs associated with using digital services like dating or music streaming apps, which can range from 11% to 30%.We are looking over the order from CCI that started the probe.

Our service price was previously thoroughly investigated by the CCI between 2020 and 2022, and no irregularity was discovered. However, a Google representative stated, “We take seriously our duty to adhere to local laws and regulations in India and will assist with the process in every manner.

Google was previously called up by the competition watchdog.

Google was found to have engaged in anti-competitive market practices through its Android mobile operating system and its Play store, according to two separate rulings given by the CCI in October 2022.

For its infractions, the regulator had penalized Google ₹2,273.44 crore ($274 million), a sum that Google has now disputed. It is anticipated that a second inquiry into Google’s adherence to CCI’s 2022 instructions will be completed soon.