Android In-App Purchase Soon Possible?

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In-app purchases have enabled app developers to earn from so-called freemium applications, which are free to download, but require payment for certain content. Will Android apps get much-awaited in-app purchases soon?

While Google has not announced the availability of in-app purchases, the Android developer community has been noticing some changes in the Android development environment that might hint at in-app purchases soon. For one, there’s the image below captured and shared by developer hyperbees, which indicate an app having in-app products.

Now everyone can get excited over this update. If–and once–in-app payments are made available for Android apps, users can expect that more applications will be made free (not only trial or stripped-down versions of apps), and most would probably be glad to pay a few bucks for premium content. Meanwhile, app developers have a new business model to earn from. Even Google can earn from their revenue share from these in-app items.

No word when this will be online, though. Maybe in an upcoming Android version? I suppose such a feature would require some additional functionality built within Market, apps, or even Android itself. At least there are indications that the Android community might see such a feature soon.