Android Market Now Supports In-App Billing

Google's Android Market will now support in-app billing, letting developers build in features that customers can purchase while using the app.

For example, Tap Tap Revenge 4 has just launched with in-app purchasing, and customers have the option to purchase new songs to play while they are inside of the app. The app Comics also takes advantage of the feature by letting users buy new titles in-app.

In-app purchases offer convenience for users and are a great tool to help developers gain some added revenue; however the feature comes at a price. Apple discovered that with iOS 4.3's in-app purchasing policy, which allowed password-less purchasing for the first 15 minutes after entering an application.

The feature led to many angry parents, as their children managed to rack up all kinds of charges from in-app purchases during the timeframe.

Apple learned from its mistake and quickly released an update that required password input for all in-app purchases. It remains to be seen whether the Android Market can dodge this bullet, and make in-app purchasing both convenient and well protected.

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