I am certain all the e-book and Kindle users are going crazy about the news that Amazon stopped users from buying e-books using Android App. In case you are confused and looking for the reason behind this action. In this article you will get all the required details about this news, keep reading.
Amazon users will no longer be able to order Kindle e-books via the Android application. The reason for this alteration is Google is approaching a new policy where application developers have to use its Play Store billing system, instead of their own. This also means that app developers be they small or big can no longer avoid Google’s 30 per cent subscription of tax, sold by the app. It should be noted that on iOS one cannot purchase a Kindle e-book.
In the case of iOS, if you click on the Kindle option for books, the Amazon application would only display the download option of the sample. In 2011, Amazon stooped providing digital book purchasing via the iOS app. They implemented this to avoid the direction of paying extra taxes on digital products, according to the Apple App Store directions. Google has similar instructions for their Play Store but they have rarely been enforced. Google expects applications to use the billing system of the company to purchase digital products in that way Google gets the amount of the sale.
This new Google policy about the billing system will start functioning from June 1, and in case the app developers do not meet the terms their app can be removed from the Play Store.
Interestingly, in India, the purchase option of Kindle e-books from the Android app is still visible. For India, Google has extended the deadline till October 2022 for the implementation of the Play Store billing system. Google spokesperson has said that they are extending the time to provide the app developers in India the essential product support for recurring expenses through suitable user payment systems, including wallets and UPI, and also grant them more time in light of the modifications to India’s recurring digital payment instructions. This justifies why the Amazon app in India still provides the payment option for e-books, but given the directions the company has taken in the USA, this might alter in the future.
In the meantime, other app developers in India remain discontented about this decision of being compelled to execute the Play Store billing system, given the 30 per cent charge they will have to compensate for transactions.
Although the users are perhaps mad about losing the ability to easily purchase through the Android app; it does not mean that there is no other procedure to do this. Instead, the users just have to visit the Amazon app via browser to finalize the purchase. You can purchase it by moving the book from the favourite to the cart to make the purchase. Once you are done buying the book, the title will be available on the Kindle app and you can continue reading.
Also Read: What Are The Different Types of Non Fiction Books and Why You Should Read Them