As we had previously covered the impending changes that will come to Google Plays update on billing payments within Google Play, the next victims of this are to be Barnes & Noble and Audible.
Users of Barnes & Noble’s Android app will no longer be able to buy ebooks through the app starting next week, owing to the Google Play policy deadline that has been in the works for more than a year and a half. It’s not only Barnes & Noble; the latest edition of Amazon‘s Android app now makes it impossible to purchase Audible titles using a debit or credit card.
Google clarified which types of in-app sales necessitated the use of the Play Store billing system in September 2020, but Barnes & Noble and Audible are only now making modifications. Google set a deadline of September 30th, 2021, and then provided a six-month stretch to March 31st, 2022 to make the necessary changes for their services. Both Audible and Barnes & Noble blamed the changes on Google’s restrictions.
How will this affect users?
On a page on its website, Barnes & Noble states that “the opportunity to purchase has been disabled from the Barnes & Noble Nook App for Android and the Nook HD 10″ Designed with Lenovo as of April 4, 2022, with the release of NOOK Software Version 6.1.” Through an email sent to a Verge staffer on Friday, the firm was a little more forthright: “You will no longer be able to make purchases of digital content in the B&N NOOK Android app.”
Even though it’s not great, Barnes & Noble emphasizes that you may still buy ebooks directly from the company’s website and have them synced to the app. To compensate for the interruption, the firm said it will provide a variety of ebook sales and discounts over the next 2 months.
Comments