At the beginning of the year, Google expressed concern over the growing reticence of Android owners to pay for apps on its platform.
Alongside an in-app payment system and a re-tuning of the Android Market's ranking algorithm, direct carrier billing was earmarked as a potential saviour by Google's management.
After AT&T Android customers became the first beneficiaries in the US of the direct billing payment system, three Japanese operators SoftBank, KDDI, and NTT DoCoMo rolled out the service.
Carrier billing support for T-Mobile patrons in America soon followed, and now users of a Sprint Android handset will be able to charge their Android Market purchases to their mobile bill with only a few taps.
In phases
Google has already commenced a phased roll-out of the service on the Sprint network, which should extend to all customers within a few days.
On its Android Developers Blog, Google stressed the import of this billing mechanism: "We believe that Direct Carrier Billing is a key payment option because it lets users purchase and pay for apps more easily.
"It's also important because it offers a convenient way to buy in regions where credit cards are less common."
Looming on the Verizon?
Of course, with AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint already onboard the direct carrier billing gravy train, there remains only one major US telco absent from the party: Verizon.
"We are continuing to partner with more carriers around the world to offer carrier billing options to their subscribers," the company added on its blog.
"Watch for announcements of new payment options coming in the months ahead."
As of yet, no operators in the UK offer carrier billing on the marketplace.
[source: Google]
News
With a degree in German up his sleeve Richard squares up to the following three questions every morning: FIFA or Pro Evo? XBox 360 or PS3? McNulty or Bunk?
Related Articles
Top Stories
News
10 hours, 43 minutes ago
Mobile legend Stumble Guys is now on PlayStation 4 and 5 with cross-progression
Feature
May 14th, 2024
Matej Lančarič's Squad Busters deep dive: Under the skin of 2024's biggest launch yet
Feature
May 14th, 2024
53 top mobile games in soft launch: Squad Busters, Battle Guys: Royale, Plants vs. Zombies 3, LEGO Hill Climb Adventures, and more
Events
Valencia Indie Summit 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Mobidictum Meetup Berlin May 2024 | Europe | May 16th |
Digital Dragons | Europe | May 19th |
GamesBeat Summit 2024 | North America | May 20th |
Mobidictum Meetup Tallinn May 2024 | Europe | May 21st |
Nordic Game Spring 2024 | Nordic | May 21st |
Impact 2024 - Indie Games | May 23rd | |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Popular Stories
News
May 9th, 2024
A third of developers implementing new payment options in face of Digital Markets Act’s $18 billion opportunity
Feature
May 7th, 2024