The Wall Street Journal: Spotify reaches deal with Google to allow alternative in-app payment method

United States

Spotify Technology SA has reached a deal with Google to offer an alternative payment method within its app for users, the latest sign of the weakening grip that app stores have over third-party software.

The streaming music service and Alphabet Inc.’s GOOGL, -1.14%   GOOG, -1.26% search giant announced the deal Wednesday, allowing Spotify’s  SPOT, +0.75%  app within the Google Play Store to offer a choice between its alternative payment method and Google’s own, which takes as much as a 30% share of revenue.