With in-app purchases already included with the Android SDK, it's just a matter of time until Google turns on the system that developers hope - and pray - will make Android games and apps much easier to monetise.
The news on the ground is the switch will be thrown sometime during the next couple of weeks; early March at the latest.
Purchases go live
Of course, many developers have already implemented micro-transactions within their games, and hence can release their content, or update existing games, as soon as Google gives the signal.
As well as smartphones, IAP will provide new business models for the many Android-based tablets set to be launch in the first half of 2011.
But it's not just Android developers who are looking to unlock the power of freemium games and virtual goods. Microsoft is also known to be working on its IAP system for Windows Phone 7, although that's expected to occur on a later timescale.
News
Contributing Editor
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon is Contributing Editor at PG.biz which means he acts like a slightly confused uncle who's forgotten where he's left his glasses. As well as letters and cameras, he likes imaginary numbers and legumes.
Related Articles
Top Stories
News
12 hours, 22 minutes ago
PocketGamer.biz Podcast Week in Mobile Games E12 - Xbox's mobile games store and Unity vs. AppLovin
Feature
May 17th, 2024
New release roundup: The best new mobile games from a battle royale to a console classic remake
Feature
May 16th, 2024
Behind the scenes: How adding sandwich offers to an idle merge game boosted three metrics at once
Events
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 | |
Morocco Gaming Expo | Africa | May 24th |
MomoCon 2024 | North America | May 24th |
Unreal Fest Gold Coast 2024 | Australasia | May 29th |
Popular Stories
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
Feature
May 13th, 2024
Hot Five: Dubai's new Gaming Visa, April's mobile game charts, and Xbox studio closures
Feature
May 14th, 2024