India to launch its own app store to compete with Google Play and Apple’s App Store
Today it became known that the Indian authorities are planning to launch a state-owned mobile application store, designed to compete with Google Play and the Apple App Store. It is reported that it may not be a brand new product. There is a possibility that the government will expand the already existing Mobile Seva service.
The government of India says: “Android has 97% of the Indian market. So we need to step in and support Indian startups. ” In addition, the authorities are considering making a state-owned app store mandatory for all smartphones sold in India. Notably, the idea began to be discussed after numerous IT entrepreneurs petitioned the government to support the Indian mobile app ecosystem, which can compete with such giants as Apple and Google. The initiators were the founders of the country’s largest online platforms. They also intend to appeal to the country’s banking regulator and Treasury to seek compensation for Google’s recent move to raise commissions on purchases made in its app store.
The country’s IT entrepreneurs are counting on government support, which, apparently, is provided to them. It is not yet known how Apple and Google will react to this news.
