That elusive local app store
Financial Express Mumbai|March 11, 2024
FOR THE MOMENT, the spat between Google and home-grown startups over the delisting of their apps from the PlayStore,seems to have been resolved.
JATIN GROVER
That elusive local app store

But no one really believes the dust will settle; the monopoly that the Big Tech firms command is causing much heartburn. Between them, Google and Apple control the operating systems on which startups list their apps and users pay for any in-app purchases. With a 95% share Google is in a commanding position; its Android system is an open source one unlike Apple's IoS.

Developers would kill for some choice. But the homegrown startups that have attempted to create an alternative ecosystem-they continue to do so-have been largely unsuccessful.

For instance, the government made an effort to get a desi app store by launching mSeva app store in 2013. However, few Indian start-ups have on-boarded it.

Experts point out the absence of partnerships with phone makers, has limited the pre-installation of mSeva on devices; therefore, few users are able to access it. Others say the userinterface is not well designed and moreover, that the store hasn't been marketed well enough.

As such, more than a decade later, it has remained a non-starter. Anupam Mittal, CEO and founder, Shaadi.com, experimented with Mobango but that didn't meet with any success. Mittal claims that while Mobango did well for a couple of years, Google marred the user experience.

"Every time a user tried to download from our store, there would be an alert that there could be a security risk," he claims. "Which user will download an app when Google says that?" The problem, he says, is that Google controls the operating system, so it can spoil the user experience for any alternative app store.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM FINANCIAL EXPRESS MUMBAIView all
Financial Express Mumbai

Murdoch ally helps Ambani build media empire in India

SOHEE KIM PR SANJAI

time-read
3 mins  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Pandya, Dube & Rinku: Can they finish for India at T20 World Cup?

GOING INTO THE 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia Dinesh Karthik was assigned the finisher role and the batting lineup was built accordingly.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Nestle adds sugar to infant milk and cereal, finds report

A NEW REPORT has revealed that Nestle, the world's largest consumer goods and manufacturer of baby formula, is adding sugar to infant milk and cereal products sold in India, and other Asian, and African countries.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

India-made Daimler's electric mini truck to hit the road soon

INDIA WILL BE host to German trucking giant Daimler's only electric vehicle plant outside of Europe and Japan when it launches a locally-made electric light cargo truck in FY25.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 18, 2024
Samsung eyes ₹10,000 cr from India TV biz this year
Financial Express Mumbai

Samsung eyes ₹10,000 cr from India TV biz this year

SOUTH KOREAN GIANT Samsung is targeting a turnover of ₹10,000 crores for its television business in India this year, driven by growth in sales of its mid to-premium segment models, said Mohandeep Singh, senior VP, consumer electronics business in India.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Microsoft AI Copilot speed boost for coding

WHEN SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Nikolai Avteniev got his hands on a preview version of Microsoft's Copilot coding assistant in 2021, he quickly saw the potential.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

US, China debt pose risks for global public finances: IMF

THE WORLD's TWO great economic rivals, China and the US, will drive much of the increase in global public debt over the next five years, with US spending creating trouble for many other countries by keeping interest rates high, officials at the International Monetary Fund said in a report.

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Language models in consumer tech

This move is designed to ensure better user experience & privacy

time-read
2 mins  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

'Data centres' energy use doubles every four years'

Data centres are significant energy consumers, using about 2% of the world's power and emitting carbon dioxide equivalent to the airline industry.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 18, 2024
Financial Express Mumbai

Vi FPO: Foreign players invest big; about ₹5,400 crore raised

GQG, Fidelity buy almost 40% of the anchor investor portion

time-read
1 min  |
April 18, 2024