Message leaks Android in-app payment plans

An e-mail received by developer Juraj Chrappa on Tuesday confirmed that Google's promised Android in-app payments should be live for everyone by May. Jambool, a virtual currency company bought by Google with in-app purchasing in mind, told those using its Social Gold system would be replaced with a "new Google in-app payment product" three months from now. Google had officially planned to exit the beta phase by the end of March.

While the timing has the possibility of being specific to the Social Gold system, it lines up with the schedule for the Google I/O developer conference in May. The Bay Area event is often used to unveil new additions to Google's platforms and last year was used to unveil both Android 2.2 and Google TV.

The addition of in-app payments has been considered a critical step to helping Android catch up to iOS in mobile apps, where Apple still has more than twice as many titles. Piracy and clone apps are considerably more of a problem in Android Market and would be helped by having an in-app system, since it would encourage an initial free download and make it difficult, if not impossible, to avoid paying for content afterwards.

Key developers such as Tap Tap Revenge owner Disney and others are so far waiting on Google to supply in-app purchases before they port their iOS apps to Android.

By Electronista Staff