Google on Tuesday announced that in-app billing for Android apps is now live. Developers can now publish apps with in-app payments and users can make purchases within those apps.
"In-app billing gives you more ways to monetize your apps with try-and-buy, virtual goods, upgrades, and other billing models," Google said in a blog post.
Several apps launching today already include in-app purchases: 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.
For developers, Google has posted detailed documentation for how to get started.
Google first announced plans for Android in-app billing at January's Inside Mobile Conference in San Francisco, and started allowing developers to upload and test apps with in-app billing on Friday.
Back in January, Google's Eric Chu said he was "definitely not happy" with the Android Market's lack of in-app purchases and told developers to expect "more investment into merchandising, payments, discovery, downloading [because] those are absolutely top areas for us."
In-app purchases have been available via Apple's App Store since October 2009 and via BlackBerry App World since September 2010.
Recently, Apple updated iOS to version 4.3, which - among other things - now requires users to enter their passwords before making in-app purchases. The move came after some users experienced bill shock thanks to in-app purchases they did not know they, or their children, were making. That prompted several members of Congress to ask the Federal Trade Commission to look into the issue of in-app billing; the FTC later said it is looking "closely" at the issue. After Apple implemented the password requirement, those members of Congress said they were pleased by the move.
