Android In-App purchase Google checkout

Question

I am considering to do an in-app purchase model within a paid app that releases or adds video content if the user opts in via a google check out method. Does anyone know how to do this from a coding standpoint? and does anyone know if this is possible?

thank you ahead of time...

Answer 1

It is possible do in-app purchases with Google's new In-App Billing services, see the documentation here: http://developer.android.com/guide/market/billing/index.html

However, note that In-App Billing relies on the 2.3 version of the Android Market .

NOTE: Old version of my answer, before In-App billing was announced

Unfortunately, there are not official mechanisms to do micropayments on Android apps distributed via the Android Market yet. You also are not allowed to implement your own methods according to the Android Market Developer Agreement:

All fees received by Developers for Products distributed via the Market must be processed by the Market's Payment Processor

Google offers no API to handle payments, and all payments must be handled by the Market's Payment Processor, so it's catch 22.

1: http://www.android.com/us/developer-distribution-agreement.html

Answer 2

As of 2/2/11, Google announced it's releasing in-app purchase for Android apps. The SDK is now available while the in-app purchase will be "live to users prior to the end of this quarter." (Q1/2011)