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Google Play Best of 2023: Several Indian Developers Awarded for Top Apps and Games on the Play Store

Google on Thursday announced the company’s annual list of top games and apps on the Play Store in India. The Google Play Best of 2023 awards have focussed on apps that help users with personal growth, mental health, self-care, and online shopping. The company also points out that several developers are also leveraging AI to bring learning or wellness features to their apps — SwiftChat, Stimuler, and Level SuperMind are some of the Google Play Best of 2023 apps in India.

This year, Google Play’s Best App of the year is Level SuperMind, an app that is looking to bring the pursuit of optimal mind performance on par with that of physical fitness, while THAP: Your Happiness Gym was the User’s Choice App of 2023. On the other hand, Monopoly Go! was Google Play’s Best Game of the year, while Subway Surfers Blast picked up the User’s Choice award in the gaming segment.

Stimuler — an app that helps non-native English speakers prepare for IELTS tests — and chatbot-based learning platform SwiftChat were both awarded the Best with AI award by the search giant. In the Best for Fun category, Google picked Threads — launched by Meta earlier this year as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter) — along with social networking platform Pepul and comics app Dashtoon.

Another notable app that was selected as one of Google’s Best App(s) for Good award was Autism BASICS — an adaptive early intervention app that makes teaching and learning easy for parents of children with autism and other special needs.

Google has awarded gaming titles across various categories
Photo Credit: Google

The company also awarded apps designed for larger screens and wearables as part of the Google Play Best of 2023 list. Canva, Everand, and Concepts were the best apps for tablets, while FlipaClip, Evernote, and Wideo were the top picks in the Best for Chromebooks category. Both WhatsApp and Audible were awarded the Best for Watches award.

SuperGaming’s Battle Stars won the Best Made in India award, while Call of Dragons, Road to Valor: Empires, and Undawn were the best multiplayer titles picked by Google. Honkai: Star Rail, MementoMori, and Lost Words: Beyond the Page were the titles that won the Best Story award. Meanwhile, Kurukshetra: Ascension, Block Heads, and Vampire Survivors were selected for the Best Indie category.

After its return to the Play Store in India earlier this year, Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India (also known as BGMI) joined Pokémon Go, and EA Sports FC Mobile Soccer as the Best Ongoing titles in India. Popular title Asphalt 9: Legends was the only title picked for the Best for Google Play Games on PC, while Viking Rise, Doomsday: Last Survivors, and Call of Dragons won the Best for Tablets award — Call of Dragons was also the only title selected for Best Multi-device Game.

You can read the complete list of the best apps and games — including those created by Indian developers and publishers — selected for Google Play’s Best of 2023 awards on the company’s blog post.

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Google Announces Plan to Manufacture Pixel Phones in India, Starting With Pixel 8

Google on Thursday announced that it plans to start manufacturing Pixel smartphones in India. The search giant will produce the Pixel 8 in India and the first units are expected to be available in 2024. The Pixel 8 was launched by the company in India and global markets earlier this month, alongside the more premium Pixel 8 Pro model. The handset is powered by a custom Google Tensor G3 chip and a Titan M2 security chip. The phone has a dual rear camera setup and is claimed to offer up to 72 hours of battery life with the Extreme Battery Saver mode.

Seven years after the launch of its first Pixel-branded smartphone, the company announced at its Google for India 2023 event that it plans to manufacture its smartphones in India. The company will start by assembling the Pixel 8 in India, and says that it will work with both local and foreign manufacturers.

The production of the Pixel 8 — and presumably Google’s subsequent Pixel smartphones — in India is expected to commence in 2024, according to the company. Customers can expect to see Pixel 8 units manufactured in India by next year.

The announcement makes Google the latest smartphone brand to start manufacturing its handsets in India. Rivals Samsung and Apple also assemble some of their smartphones in the country. However, it is currently unclear whether the pricing of Google’s Pixel handsets will drop once more units are manufactured in the country.

Meanwhile, Google also announced that it plans to expand coverage of its service network to more cities and locations across the country — the company currently offers support in 28 service centres located in 27 cities that are operated by F1 Info Solutions.

“This is an early step in a long journey of expanding our device production capacity and helping meet the country’s growing demand for Pixel smartphones,” Senior VP for Devices and Services Rick Osterloh said on Thursday.

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Google Says in Compliance With CCI Order Regarding Play Store’s Payments Policy

Google on Wednesday said its Google Play‘s payments policy is compliant with the anti-trust watchdog CCI‘s order and it is pushing ahead with plans to enforce the policy in the country.

“In 2020, we clarified the requirements of our payments policy, and developers in India have had considerable time to make the necessary changes to their apps,” it said in a blog post. “We’re respectfully following the CCI’s October 2022 order, and in compliance with that order, we expanded user choice billing to all developers in India and updated our policy that went into effect starting April 26, 2023.” Google said as the deadline of April 26 had now passed, it would be taking “necessary steps” to get developers to implement one of the billing options it offers.

Three routes are available for app developers — using Google Play’s billing system, an alternative billing system called the user choice billing system alongside Google Play’s billing system for users in India and operating on a consumption-only basis without paying a service fee, even if it is part of a paid service.

Google said it continued to “comply with local laws and cooperate with local proceedings, as applicable”. Applying a service fee is a “sensible model as the platform only makes money when a developer makes money, so our success is aligned with theirs”, it said.

It said the service fee it accrues from developers allows it to fund the large investments it has made for the growth of India’s app ecosystem. The company insisted that its fees — 15 percent of lower for most developers — is the lowest of any major app store and a 4 percent reduction in that fee for those who implement an alternative billing system “fairly reflects that Google Play‘s billing system has not been used.

Less than 60 of the over 2,00,000 Indian developers on Google Play currently could pay a service fee of above 15 percent, Google said, citing its own estimations.

The Competition Commission of India in October slapped a fine on Google and directed the Android maker to give developers the choice of using third-party billing systems in the country.

“Most developers globally have already elected one of these routes. In India, now that the deadline has passed, we are informing developers in the country who have not yet implemented one of these options that we will be taking necessary steps to ensure our policy is applied fairly. We continue to comply with local laws and cooperate with local proceedings, as applicable,” Google said.

Google I/O 2023 saw the search giant repeatedly tell us that it cares about AI, alongside the launch of its first foldable phone and Pixel-branded tablet. This year, the company is going to supercharge its apps, services, and Android operating system with AI technology. We discuss this and more on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Google Payments to Ireland Outfit Not Royalty, Not Subject to Withholding Tax, ITAT Says

Google India was granted relief on Friday as the Income Tax Appellate Authority (ITAT) said the payments made by the company to Google Ireland between 2007-08 and 2012-13 were not royalties and were hence not subject to withholding tax. The Bengaluru-bench of the ITAT passed the ruling after re-examining the matter on the orders of the Karnataka High Court. The case relates to whether payments totalling Rs 1,457 crore made by Google India to Google Ireland is a royalty and whether the tax was to be withheld in India.

The ITAT in its earlier order in 2018 had held that Google India’s payment to Google Ireland is royalty and tax should be paid in India. However, Karnataka High Court directed ITAT to re-examine the matter.

In its fresh ruling dated October 19, 2022, the ITAT set aside its 2018 order and said that such transfer of money was not a royalty.

Allowing the appeal of Google India, the ITAT, in a 72-page order dated October 19, said, “we hold that the impugned payment cannot be characterised as royalty under the India-Ireland DTAA.” An email sent to Google India for comment on the issue did not elicit a response.

The ITAT ruling comes a day after Google was hit with a Rs. 1,337.68 crore penalty, imposed by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices.

The CCI’s penalty amount of Rs. 1,337.68 crore imposed on Google is “provisional”, the regulator said, as it has asked the internet major to furnish requisite financial details since the data was not presented in a reliable manner.

The penalty of Rs. 1,337.76 crore translates to 10 percent of Google’s average of relevant turnover for the last three preceding financial years 2018-19, 2019-2020 and 2020-21.

Apple launched the iPad Pro (2022) and the iPad (2022) alongside the new Apple TV this week. We discuss the company’s latest products, along with our review of the iPhone 14 Pro on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Google Antitrust Penalty Amount ‘Provisional’; CCI Awaits Requisite Financial Details

The Competition Commission’s penalty amount of Rs. 1,337.68 crore imposed on Google is “provisional” as the regulator has asked the internet major to furnish requisite financial details since the data was not presented in a reliable manner.

On Thursday, the watchdog penalised Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices and also ordered the company to cease and desist from various unfair business practices.

The penalty of Rs. 1,337.76 crore translates to 10 percent of Google’s average of relevant turnover for the last three preceding financial years 2018-19, 2019-2020 and 2020-21.

According to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), Google has made significant upward revisions in the financial data presented vide its submission dated October 11, 2022, vis-a-vis that of December 17, 2021.

However, this data is still subject to multiple caveats, disclaimers, assumptions, exclusions, as per the regulator’s order passed on Thursday.

“The Commission takes a serious note of such glaring inconsistencies and wide disclaimers in presenting various data points by Google. The Commission is constrained to observe that despite commanding enormous resources, Google has failed to provide the data in the manner sought by the Commission despite the grant of sufficient time, as sought by it,” CCI said in the order made public on Friday.

In a statement on Friday, Google said it will review the CCI order and termed it as a “major setback” for Indian consumers and businesses.

As per the order, the sum total of revenue of various segments/ heads for the FY 2021-21 is higher than the total turnover of Google for the said financial year.

“Thus, taking a conservative approach at this stage, the Commission decides to take the lower revenue data, as submitted by Google vide its submission dated 11.10.2022, as relevant turnover for computation of quantum of penalty,” it noted.

In the 293-page order, the regulator said the aforesaid penalty amount is “provisional and subject to revision on Google furnishing the requisite financial details and supporting documents as sought by the Commission vide order dated 19.09.2022”.

The internet major has been asked to do the needful within 30 days from the receipt of the latest order.

“It is further clarified that the basis of determination of penalty i.e., relevant turnover as well as appropriate percentage thereof has already been decided vide this order.

“However, the actual quantum of penalty may undergo a revision based on revenue data to be submitted by Google and to that extent only, the present penalty is provisional,” it said.

“This clearly shows that data has not been presented by Google in a reliable manner. In this regard, it is observed that the Commission has given an unambiguous direction to Google that the data should be supported by certificates of Chartered Accountants. However, Google has not provided the same and rather has provided certificates of its own officers,” the regulator noted.

As against the claims of Google, CCI said it does not find any mitigating factor in the present matter, which would warrant a reduction in the penalty computation, rather there are aggravating factors viz the conduct on the part of Google is continuing unhindered at least since 2011.

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Google to Review CCI’s Antitrust Fine Over Allegation of Dominance in Android Market

Google on Friday said it will review Competition Commission’s (CCI) decision to impose a Rs. 1,338 crore penalty for alleged anti-competitive practice, and termed the order a “major setback” for Indian consumers and businesses.

In its first official response after the CCI order, Google said Android has created more choices for everyone and supports thousands of successful businesses in India and around the world.

“The CCI‘s decision is a major setback for Indian consumers and businesses, opening serious security risks for Indians who trust Android’s security features, and raising the cost of mobile devices for Indians,” a Google spokesperson said in an email statement.

Google said it will “review the decision to evaluate the next steps”.

The competition watchdog on Thursday slapped a steep penalty of Rs. 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in relation to Android mobile devices and ordered the internet major to cease and desist from various unfair business practices.

The regulator, which passed the order after ordering a detailed probe more than three years ago, has also directed Google to modify its conduct within a defined timeline.

Android is a popular open-source, mobile operating system installed by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets.

CCI, which had started probing the case in April 2019, has directed that OEMs should not be restrained from choosing from among Google’s proprietary applications to be pre-installed and also not be forced to pre-install a bouquet of applications on their smart devices.

In other news, Alphabet’s Google has also been sued in Texas for allegedly collecting biometric data of millions of Texans without obtaining proper consent, the attorney general’s office said in a statement on Thursday.

The complaint says that companies operating in Texas have been barred for more than a decade from collecting people’s faces, voices or other biometric data without advanced, informed consent.

The collection occurred through products like Google Photos, Google Assistant, and Nest Hub Max, the statement said.

Buying an affordable 5G smartphone today usually means you will end up paying a “5G tax”. What does that mean for those looking to get access to 5G networks as soon as they launch? Find out on this week’s episode. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

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Google Faces Over Rs. 1330 Crore Fine by CCI for Misusing Dominant Position in Android Mobile Market

The Competition Commission on Thursday imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the android mobile device ecosystem. Besides, the fair trade regulator has directed the internet major to cease and desist from unfair business practices.

In a release, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) said it has also directed Google to modify its conduct within a defined timeline.

In April 2019, the regulator ordered a detailed probe in the matter following complaints by consumers of Android-based smartphones in the country. Android is an open-source, mobile operating system installed by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) of smartphones and tablets.

The allegations of unfair business practices pertained to two agreements — Mobile Application Distribution Agreement (MADA) and Anti Fragmentation Agreement (AFA) — which were entered into by the OEMs of Android OS with Google.

In the release, the regulator said it has imposed a penalty of Rs 1,337.76 crore on Google for abusing its dominant position in multiple markets in the Android mobile device ecosystem apart from issuing the cease and desist order.

As per the release, CCI said that mandatory pre-installation of entire Google Mobile Suite (GMS) under MADA, with no option to un-install the same, and their prominent placement amounts to imposition of unfair condition on the device manufacturers and thereby contravenes competition law.

“These obligations are also found to be in the nature of supplementary obligations imposed by Google on OEMs and thus, in contravention of Section 4(2)(d) of the Act,” it added.

Section 4 of the Competition Act pertains to abuse of dominant position.

Google has perpetuated its dominant position in the online search market resulting in denial of market access for competing search apps. Also, it has leveraged its dominant position in the app store market for Android OS to protect its position in online general search which violates the competition law.

Further, the CCI noted that the internet major has leveraged its dominant position in the app store market for Android OS to enter as well as protect its position in non-OS specific web browser market through Google Chrome app.

“Google has leveraged its dominant position in the app store market for Android OS to enter as well as protect its position in Online Video Hosting Platforms (OVHPs) market through YouTube and thereby contravened provisions of Section 4(2)(e) of the Act,” the release said.

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Google Faces Another Probe as CCI Alleges Unfair Revenue Sharing Terms

The Competition Commission of India has ordered another detailed probe against Google for alleged unfair revenue sharing terms with respect to news content.

The case will be clubbed with two other ongoing matters against the search engine major where the allegations are substantially same, according to the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

The latest order has come on a complaint filed by the News Broadcasters & Digital Association.

In January this year, CCI ordered a probe against Google on the complaint filed by the Digital News Publishers Association. Later, the Indian Newspaper Society also filed a similar case and that was clubbed with the first one.

Now, the regulator’s probe arm Director General (DG) will submit a consolidated investigation report, the watchdog said in an order released on Friday.

The News Broadcasters & Digital Association had alleged that its members are forced to provide their news content to Google in order to prioritise their weblinks in the Search Engine Result Page (SERP) of Google. As a result, Google free rides on the content of the members without giving them adequate compensation, as per the complaint.

Among others, it was alleged that Google exploited the dependency of the members on the search engine offered by Google for referral-traffic to build services such as Google News, Google Discover and Google Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP).

The search engine major provides news content to user through Google Search and through news aggregator vertical, Google News.

According to the complaint, in Google Search, users can either search directly for news through News Tab or receive news through result in SERPs. Google incorporated news content in its SERPs through featured snippets including ‘Top Stories’ carousels.

However, the revenue distributed by Google to news publishers doesn’t compensate for the real contribution made by the association’s members to these platforms, it added.

In a four-page order, dated October 6 and released on Friday, CCI said the allegations are substantially the same as that of the matter which is already being probed by the regulator.

CCI has directed the DG to club the matters and submit a consolidated investigation report.

Cases where there is prima-facie evidence of violation of competition norms are referred by CCI to its investigation arm DG for a detailed probe.

The complaint has been filed against Alphabet, Google, Google India, Google Ireland and Google Asia Pacific.

The association consists of national and regional private news and current affairs broadcasters and digital news media entities as its members.

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Google Faces Another Probe by CCI After Allegations of Unfair Revenue Sharing Terms