In an effort to avoid paying Google a 30% commission on all digital content purchases, Amazon has removed the ability to purchase e-books and other digital content from its Android shopping app. Although users will still be able to download and stream the content they own through the app, new purchases will only be possible through the Amazon website or the Kindle app.
According to the post BBC In the report, Amazon implemented this change in response to a Play Store policy that requires app developers with annual sales of more than $1 million to pay 30% commission on all in-app purchases. The e-commerce giant already has a similar policy to its iOS shopping app to avoid fees charged by Apple.
Although Amazon has not released any information about how this change will affect sales of digital content, a company spokesperson told BBC The company “carefully considered” this change. Interestingly, the BBC report highlights that Amazon reported its first quarterly loss since 2015 in April of this year, following a drop in online sales.
This isn’t the first time Amazon has taken such a drastic step to avoid increasing fees. Towards the end of last year, the company said it would stop accepting Visa credit cards in the UK, citing an “outrageous” rise in Visa transaction fees. However, the company has not put that change into effect, as it was able to reach an agreement with Visa earlier this year.
Head over to the BBC’s original coverage by following the link below for more information about the change.
Have you used the Amazon Shopping app to purchase e-books or other digital content? Will this change affect your buying habits, or are you okay with going to the Amazon website for future purchases? Let us know in the comments section below.
source: BBC
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