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Google is adding yet another way for developers to earn consistent cash flow by introducing new in-app subscription payments to the Google Play Store. Developers now have the option to bill users monthly or annually for access to their apps and content. Of course the first though that comes to mind are MMORPG’s, giving access to new areas and levels, but this could be applied to other types of apps — magazines or newspapers, for instance. Glu Mobile’s Frontline Commando is one of the first apps to take advantage of this new billing option and their CEO, Niccolo de Masi, had this to share:
“We’re using Google Play subscriptions to offer consumers a compelling value and a single currency which they can use across Glu’s most popular titles. 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.”
What’s more, Google has also provided a web-based API for developers to verify a user’s subscription status in order to access web content. That means if you subscribe to an app through the Google Play Store, a developer could also grant access to their website (again, magazines come to mind). The subscriptions are all managed through the Google Play Store and are available right now for any device currently running Google Play Store versions 3.5 and above (and if you’re not, you can download it here). Android devs, get started via the link below.
I don’t see this going well. Want no ads? Only $0.99 per month!
Like in-app purchases, I can see this going south real quick. Let’s hope they offer good enough content to warrant a subscription.
I’m old school. I just like paying upfront. Paying for expansions. Paying for sequels. -_-
Gee de Masi, you make it sound like you’re doing us a swell favor.
$!
This can work.
Some smaller devs can band together and do a subscription to access all their apps or content.
Say Gameloft, a yearly fee for an app a month or something like this. This is good for monetization.
The app market needs some monetization or it will lose to the apple store.
gets popcorn waits for the myriad of smartphone users who’s toddlers now give them a monthly surprise instead of just a one time surprise. how long till they notice where that monthly charge is coming from?