As promised last week, Google has now launched its in-app billing platform for Android. That means developers can publish applications to the Android Market that contain mechanisms to allow for in-app purchases of digital goods. Explains Eric Chu, Android Developer Ecosystem lead, this feature lets developers monetize apps using try-and-buy, virtual goods, upgrades and other billing models.
Apps supporting in-app at launch include Tap Tap Revenge by Disney Mobile, Comics by ComiXology, Gun Bros, Deer Hunter Challenge HD, and WSOP3 by Glu Mobile and Dungeon Defenders: FW Deluxe by Trendy Entertainment.
Google has also provided documentation, a complete sample app, and info on how to implement the service, set up in-app product lists, and test the implementation.
In addition, third-party mobile services company Urban Airship is working on a “last mile” tool that will make implementing Google’s new system even easier for developers. Similar to the service available for iPhone, UA’s beta for In-App Purchases on Android is now underway.
Features supported in the program include:
- Dynamic content: The Android Market limits application size to 25mb (even over Wi-Fi). Apps with rich content and media files can use UA’s In-App Purchase offering to grow beyond that. Developers upload paid and free content to UA’s servers and it delivers the content to the end user when needed.
- Security: Urban Airship reduces complexity around security by validating all purchase receipts before delivering content to the application.
- Versioning and updates: Urban Airship tracks updates to purchasable content and notifies users when updates are available. Developers can also fixes bugs in your updates without shipping an additional app update.
The sign-up form for this program is still live on UA’s website here.
