Japan plans to introduce competition to the phone app market, currently dominated by Apple and Google.

Japan to Open Up Smartphone App Payments Market

Japan plans to stoke competition in smartphone app payments, dominated by Apple and Google, by banning major app store operators from forcing software developers to use the operators’ own payment systems, a government panel said.

The final report by the panel, released on Friday, also said major suppliers of smartphone operating systems (OS) should be obliged to offer users alternative ways to obtain apps in a secure manner other than their own app stores.

Apple’s iOS and Android from Alphabet’s Google roughly split Japan’s mobile OS market.

Apple allows users to download iPhone apps only through its own app store, while both Apple and Google require software developers to use proprietary payment systems that charge commissions of up to 30%.

The report said that necessary legislative measures will be looked into next, while the Asahi Shimbun daily reported on Saturday the government aims to submit a related bill to parliament as early as next year.

Members of the government panel include Industry Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura and Economy Minister Shigeyuki Goto.

(Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)

Guggenheim Baseball Management Honors Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

Guggenheim Baseball Management, which owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, is going ahead with their salute to the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.

Rep. Andy Biggs Discusses Current Issues

with Rep. Andy Biggs

Oligarchs Manipulate America’s AI and DOJ Criticizes Minneapolis PD

Oligarchs pull America’s AI strings and and the DOJ berates Minneapolis PD.

Nation Gripped by Donald Trump’s Indictment and Arraignment

This week, Donald Trump’s indictment and arraignment have gripped the nation.

Services on Facebook and Instagram Restored

(Reuters) – Meta Platforms said on Friday services on its social media apps Facebook and Instagram were restored, more than two hours after…

Microsoft Faces Legal Battles in Bid to Acquire Activision

(Reuters) – Microsoft, which is seeking to buy games giant Activision, faces two legal fights in coming weeks with U.S. antitrust enforcers…

Binance’s U.S. Affiliate Conducts Funding Round

By Angus Berwick and Tom Wilson LONDON (Reuters) – The U.S. affiliate of crypto giant Binance has carried out a round of…

SEC Official Rejects Criticism of Agency

By Chris Prentice NEW YORK (Reuters) – A top U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) official on Friday rejected criticism of the…