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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.