Said subscriptions are auto-renewing by default and are available in both monthly and annual forms, with Google dubbing the move as a way of making it "easy for developers to offer a great purchasing experience."
Super subscriptions
"Building on Google Play's strength as a truly cloud-connected experience, developers can offer users the ability to carry their subscriptions across multiple properties, services, or campaigns," said Google Play product manager Ibrahim Elbouchikhi.
"To make this easier, we're introducing an HTTP-based publisher API through which enterprise-scale backend servers can validate or cancel subscriptions.
"Using this API, for example, developers can extend access from their Android apps to their web properties, based on subscriptions that are purchased on Google Play."
Google claims games are already lining up to employ the model, with Glu the first to take advantage by launching updated versions of its top Android titles, including Frontline Commando.
Going Glu
"We're using Google Play subscriptions to offer consumers a compelling value and a single currency which they can use across Glus most popular titles," said Glu CEO Niccolo de Masi.
"We're excited to bring these capabilities to our Android users and we believe that Google Play subscriptions will fuel further growth in our business."
Developers looking to employ subscriptions in their titles need to read the in-app billing documentation first, before downloading the updated sample app.
For those already employing in-app billing, Google claims adding subscriptions is pain free and "involves only minor changes to your code."
Users need to have Google Play version 3.5 or higher to take advantage of the subscriptions.
[source: Google]
