Vijay Shekhar Sharma fires the shots – Paytm launches its own Android mini-app store to take on Google

• Mini apps are a ‘custom-built mobile website’ with the same functionalities as a regular app.
• Paytm is offering no fees currently for developers to list and distribute their apps on the platform.
• Over 300 app-based service providers such as Decathlon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino's Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the program.

After reports of Indian startups getting together to launch their own app store to tackle Google’s monopoly, Paytm has now announced that it has launched an Android mini-app store for Indian developers.

"I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer. Paytm Mini App Store empowers our young Indian developers to leverage our reach and payments to build new innovative services. For Paytm users, it will be a seamless experience that doesn't require any separate download and enables them to use their preferred payment option,” said Vijay Shekhar Sharma, Founder & CEO, Paytm in a statement.

Mini apps are a ‘custom-built mobile website’ with the same functionalities as a regular app. It is a hybrid solution between a website and an app. The mini-app store also has its own developer dashboard analytics, payment collection methods, and marketing tools. “Paytm has created the digital infrastructure to enable small developers and businesses to set up low-cost, quick-to-build mini-apps which can be built using HTML and javascript technologies,” said the company.

Paytm is offering no fees currently for developers to list and distribute their apps on the platform.

According to the company’s statement, over 300 app-based service providers such as Decathlon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino's Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the program.

The development comes as many recent moves from Google have put Indian startups in a tough spot. It began with Paytm being removed for a few hours from the Play Store. Google had said that Paytm violated rules regarding fantasy gaming promotions.

This was followed by Google rolling out new payment policies where developers would have to pay a 30% tax on all in-app purchases and even included entertainment, education, dating, and fitness apps in the list. However, Google has reportedly deferred this new policy until April 2022.


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