Archive — US — techcrunch
Xiaomi to preinstall PhonePe’s app store on smartphones sold in India
Xiaomi announced it will preinstall PhonePe's Indus Appstore on its smartphones sold in India, replacing its own GetApps. This multi-year deal allows Xiaomi to offer a localized app marketplace, while Google's Play Store will still be included. PhonePe aims to compete with Google by not charging developers fees for in-app purchases, though it's unclear when this change will take effect.
Key points
- Xiaomi is replacing its GetApps with PhonePe’s Indus Appstore on new Android smartphones sold in India.
- Xiaomi signed a multi-year deal with PhonePe for this integration.
- Google Play Store will still be preinstalled alongside the new app store.
- PhonePe aims to capture a larger share of the Indian app market by offering zero fees for developers.
- The Indus Appstore supports 12 languages and features a video-led discovery feed.
- Challenges remain for alternative app stores in gaining user trust and popularity.
Why it matters
- This move aligns with India's growing digital ecosystem and emphasizes 'Make for India' initiatives.
- The trend reflects a broader shift in the tech landscape where local competitors are emerging against established giants like Google.
- As of 2025, the rise of regional app stores and decentralized platforms is significant alongside an increase in mobile usage in emerging markets.
Xiaomi's partnership with PhonePe marks a strategic shift towards localized app offerings, reflecting broader trends in India's digital economy and the increasing competition against global platforms like Google.