The Real Reason Google Fears Opening Up Its Play Store
You’ve heard the excuse from Google: it would take a staggering $60 million to $137 million and 12 to 18 months to set up a third-party app store within its own ecosystem. But is that really the reason, or is it just a clever attempt to maintain its stranglehold on the Android market?
Let’s face it, Google’s Play Store is a goldmine. In 2020 alone, it raked in a profit of nearly $12 billion, or a staggering $31 million per day. Compare that to the paltry costs of accommodating a few more app stores. It’s clear that Google is protecting its own interests, not its "reputation" or "user safety" as it claims.
And what’s really at stake here? A small percentage of the app store’s profit, maybe a few million dollars, and a tiny fraction of its overall revenue. Is it really worth damaging its reputation and risking regulatory fines to maintain its dominance? We think not.
But don’t just take our word for it. Epic Games, the developer behind Fortnite, is still waiting to see what it actually won in its surprise victory against Google. We know what it wants: to open up the Play Store to competition. And that’s exactly what Google fears most.
So, will the court force Google to open up its store, or will it cave in to its own greed and self-interest? The verdict is far from certain, but one thing’s for sure: the real winners in this game are the consumers, who deserve access to a more competitive and diverse app ecosystem.
