Amazon has stopped letting customers download ebooks and other digital content from its Android shopping app.
It encourages them to buy books through its website or the Kindle app instead.
Since April, companies with annual sales over $1 million (£800,000) have had to pay 30% commission on all in-app purchases to Android owner Google, who also handles all payment transactions.
And Amazon said its policy, which was rolled out globally over the past two weeks, is in response to “Google Store policies.”
It declined to say what impact it had on sales.
In April, Amazon reported its first quarterly loss since 2015 after online sales slumped.
Content can still be streamed in the Shopping app.
Amazon has had the same policy for its iOS shopping app for a number of years, as Apple has been charging similar fees.
An Amazon official said the changes have been “carefully considered” and that digital content will continue to be available outside of the app.
Kindle reader Keith Milburn said he’s more likely to buy ebooks through the “daily deal” while browsing the app on his journey.
“It’s going to stop me from looking at Amazon every day,” he said.
“I don’t typically use my Kindle to access apps—I just read on it.
“That’s going to put me off buying more books because the habit won’t be there.”
In a previous fee dispute, Amazon threatened to stop accepting Visa payments in the UK.
Fortnite maker Epic Games sued Apple in 2021, claiming it operated a “monopoly” because Apple customers had nowhere else to access its apps and developers weren’t allowed to report cheaper in-game purchases outside of the app .
There is also ongoing legal action against Apple and Google from device users who say the charges are unfair.
Apple and Google say they offer a secure marketplace and access to a huge global market – most smartphone users use either Apple or Android devices.
Follow Zoe Kleinman on Twitter @zsk.
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