Millions of Android phone users are set to take a portion of cash from Google after it offered up $700 million in compensation relating to its Play Store regulations.
The American tech company giant, which is one of the top 20 businesses in the world, is set to make the mega payment after it was taken to court for percentages it was taking from purchases from the Google Play Store.
Accused of abusing the power it held over people who had an Android phone in the United States, dozens of US states launched a class-action case against Google.
What has Google been doing?
It was all to do with the payment system Google used in its app store, with the company charging between 15 percent and 30 percent commission for every purchase made.
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So if you bought an app on the Play Store for $4, it could claim up to $1.20 from the business and team that developed the app.
Instead of letting this get to court, Google quickly settled in September last year, now reducing its cut to between 11 percent and 26 percent. It'll also be forced to allow Android users to pay for apps through another system that isn't the Google Play billing system.
This will allow Android users to bypass the commission Google takes from developers.
How much can Android users claim from Google?
A total fund of $700 million has been offered by Google, which is around £550 million. Of this, $630m (£495m) will go to Android users directly.
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The remaining $70m (£55m) will go to the US states that filed the claim against Google.
Because of the sheer number of people impacted, the cut each person will be entitled to is pretty small.
According to the attorney general of California, North Carolina, Arizona, Utah and Tennessee, the average pay out will be less than a fiver at $4.41. The most you'll possibly get from the funding pot will be $17, which is less than £14.
How can you make a claim for compensation?
Good news on this front. There's no silly hoops to jump through or boxes to tick off.
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Instead, your claim has already been activated if you're entitled.
Those eligible will have been automatically told about what options they have should they be due any cash from the $700m pot.
In some cases, consumers will receive automatic payments through digital services such as PayPal or Venmo, or may be able to choose to receive a check or an ACH transfer, according to one state’s Attorney General.
If you've not been contacted, it's worth waiting. Only those who paid for items from the Play Store between 16 August, 2016 and 30 September, 2023 have a chance of having a valid claim.
Topics: Crime, Google, Money, Phones, Samsung, Technology, US News
Tom Earnshaw