After etailers Amazon and Flipkart, CAIT trains gun on Google, Apple App stores

New Delhi: Alleging that big App stores charge 'huge commissions' from software developers, Delhi-based traders' grouping Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) on Saturday urged the government to take immediate action against the tech giants.

CAIT stated that App stores’ way of operations amounted to non-competitive practice as it limited the choice of the users to a greater extent.

"Recently, South Korea has passed a legislation imposing a ban on big App stores. Prominently, two major companies Google and Apple are charging (for) the use of their payment systems commissions of up to 30 per cent and forcing the users of their software to use their payment system only which is a non-competitive practice and limit the choice to a greater extent of the users," CAIT said in a statement.

It said over the period, big tech companies have gained enormous clout which has proved a major roadblock for a large number of small technology players and, therefore, there is a need for regulatory steps in order to protect users and prevent corporate abuse of powers.
CAIT office bearers BC Bhartia and Praveen Khandelwal alleged that like other malpractices being done in e-commerce, the same practices are being tried to enforce in technology also which is not in the larger interest of the country.

"There is an emergent need of bringing openness in the technology sector also giving equal opportunities to all service providers to provide the best material and services and let the consumer decide what to use and what not," they said in a joint communication.
The two hoped that the government will follow South Korea’s lead and will ensure to level the playing field for all app developers and users.
UNI