Google allows app developers to break away from Play billing system

UK regulator asks for views on how move will work in practice, amid concern over tech firm's cut of in-app purchases

Google is to let Android developers bypass in-app payments on its Play app store for the first time, in an effort to head off an investigation from the British competition regulator.

But the specifics of the deal to placate the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will give little cause for cheer to independent developers who have been campaigning against app store taxes", since Google will continue to collect a service fee" for all eligible purchases on its platform.