It's been talked about and showcased in closed beta form, but now BlackBerry's much fabled in-app payments system is finally available to all via its new Payments Service SDK.
The SDK is still technically in beta, but developers are now free to utilise it, allowing them to implement several new purchase options into their titles.
Playing the paying game
"The BlackBerry Payment Service SDK allows you to easily offer content for sale in your app, while still providing the consumer with the same trusted and consistent purchase experience they have today in BlackBerry App World," the firm says on its developer's blog.
The new in-app payment system which brings BlackBerry in line with similar set ups offered on rival platforms was first announced at the BlackBerry Developer Conference in September 2010.
However, though developers will no doubt be pleased to finally see it roll out wholesale, it does come with some fairly major restrictions.
For one, while it facilitates the purchase of additional digital properties (eBooks, photos, artwork, etc), services (video streaming or voice transciption), and extra levels, characters and features in games, support for virtual currencies of any kind is out.
A social situation"The BlackBerry Payment Service does not permit the sale of digital currencies or in-app credits that can be used to purchase digital goods," states RIM.
"Using an intermediary currency to sell digital goods can cause confusion as to what exactly is being purchased."
As a result, it's unlikely BlackBerry App World will be awash with social games in the months to come, the new payment system inflexible to the set up adopted by scores of freemium titles on iOS.
[source: BlackBerry Blog]
News
With a fine eye for detail, Keith Andrew is fuelled by strong coffee, Kylie Minogue and the shapely curve of a san serif font.
Top Stories
News
4 hours, 20 minutes ago
App Store developers can start nominating their games for featuring later this year
News
5 hours, 35 minutes ago
Apple joins generative AI revolution with Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT support
News
10 hours, 33 minutes ago
Royal Match takes a sweet lead over Candy Crush as Honkai: Star Rail zooms by Genshin Impact
News
12 hours, 35 minutes ago
Devsisters’ Chris O’Kelly talks upselling IP to fans across multiple games without cannibalization
News
12 hours, 35 minutes ago
Devsisters’ Chris O’Kelly talks upselling IP to fans across multiple games without cannibalization
Feature
Jun 10th, 2024
Hot Five: Squad Busters’ supercharged launch, Pokémon’s record revenue, and Star Wars: Hunters finally hits the target
Events
Tribeca Games Festival 2024 | North America | Jun 5th |
Steam Next Fest: June 2024 Edition | Jun 10th | |
WN Conference Istanbul 2024 | Jun 11th | |
GamesForum Hamburg 2024 | Europe | Jun 11th |
ESI London 2024 | Europe | Jun 13th |
Game Con Canada (GCC) 2024 | North America | Jun 14th |
Indie Dev Play 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |
DevGAMM Vilnius 2024 | Europe | Jun 14th |