Google launched in-application billing for its Android Market applications. The idea is to help developers earn more money for their coding work.
Google March 29 officially
launched Android Market In-app Billing to let developers publish applications
that incorporate ways for consumers to purchase goods from within the apps.
Previously, developers who submitted apps to the Android
Market would take their 70 percent cut of the app sale and perhaps make money
from mobile advertising.
In-application billing lets software developers make more
money by selling virtual goods and upgrades in their apps to consumers. Makers
of gaming apps can sell consumers additional levels.
Disney Mobile
showed at a Google event last month how it
is
leveraging in-app billing through its Tap Tap Revenge for Android app.
Comics by ComiXology; Gun Bros, Deer Hunter Challenge HD,
and WSOP3 by Glu Mobile; and Dungeon Defenders: FW Deluxe by Trendy
Entertainment are also leveraging in-app billing.
Google
offers information about how to set up products
lists and begin testing in-app purchasing in its developer documentation.
Adding in-app billing could be a big new way for Google
to boost monetization for the Android Market.
While this app store has roughly
150,000 applications, it has few really successful paid apps to speak of compared
to Apple's iTunes App Store. Apple has helped developers net $3 billion from
some of the store's 350,000 apps.
With in-app billing, Google is making moves to help
Android programmers profit from their work.
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