After Google’s confirmation of providing Spotify with a unique deal on Android app store fees, questions arise about whether other companies, like Bumble, part of Google’s “User Choice Billing” program, received similar arrangements.

Google spokesperson Dan Jackson refused to address the inquiry, stating that the standard service fee reduction for developers under User Choice Billing is 4%. Bumble’s Q4 2022 earnings call indicated no special rate, but court documents suggest the 4% saving might not significantly impact effective rates, with Google’s VP of Play partnerships, Purnima Kochikar, admitting similar costs for developers with or without User Choice Billing.

Bumble’s Q3 2023 earnings call noted increased app store fees due to compliance with Google Play mandates. However, Bumble’s president expressed positivity about User Choice Billing’s impact on users during an earlier Q1 2023 earnings call.

The specific reasons behind Bumble’s continued use of User Choice Billing remain unclear, prompting speculation about potential benefits, such as offering unique features or subscriptions not provided by Google. The secrecy surrounding Spotify’s deal also persists, as Epic’s attempt to reveal specific rates was not addressed by the court, leaving the details undisclosed.