in-app payments
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South Korea to investigate Apple, Google over possible in-app payment violations
South Korea is investigating Apple and Google over possible violations of a law allowing a choice of in-app payments.
Google files a lawsuit that could kick Tinder out of the Play Store
Google has counter-sued Match seeking monetary damages and a judgement that would let it kick Tinder and the group's other dating apps out of the Play Store.
Microsoft promises to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation
It's a high-profile pledge to convince the FTC to approve its takeover.
PayPal's new Android SDK offers multiple in-app payment options
PayPal just announced a new Android SDK for developers. Previously released for iOS, the kit lets app devs integrate mobile payments via both PayPal and credit card. As the mockup above demonstrates, it's very straightforward -- and we're pretty sure that's the point. The SDK will support Android 2.2 (Froyo) and up when it becomes available to US developers on May 15th.
Skype strikes deal with Mach to expand direct carrier billing for credit purchases
Skype is always finding new ways of making it easier for users to spend money, and now it's extending its carrier billing options in a new deal with Mach. From October, more users than ever will be able to buy credit for the VoIP service then forget about it -- at least until the phone bill arrives. Purchases will initially be available through a web browser, but in-app functionality is expected in the future, although there's no word on exactly which network providers will be involved. We hope, however, that sometime next month, at least a few of those who enjoy Skyping on the move will appreciate sending the bill to their carrier.
Facebook smooths the way for carrier billing on in-app purchases
Facebook has known for some time now that its app-monetization process was more SucksVille, than FarmVille. Now, it's just announced that it's rolling out the new silky-smooth two-step payment process. This means you can stock up on Farm cash sans typing, and forget about the real cost until your mobile bill turns up. Currently most US and UK networks are on board, but more international operators will be added as soon as they can. If you already have payments integrated in your app, you should be good to go, but if you don't, and you want a slice of the pie, there's an API and instructions via the source link.
Lodsys adds Rovio, Atari, EA and others to patent suit, makes birds even angrier
If you thought Lodsys was done making a spectacle of itself and dragging app developers to court, you were sorely mistaken. The king of the patent trolls has amended its original complaint against mobile devs, removing one company, but adding five new ones -- all of them big names. Rovio, Electronic Arts, Square Enix, Atari, and Take-Two Interactive have been added to the list of defendants in the suit filed back in May. Vietnamese company Wulven Games has been dropped from the complaint, but Lodsys has more than made up for it by directly targeting possibly the largest mobile title out there -- Angry Birds. You can find the completely amended filing at the source link and, if you're in the mood for a bit of a refresher, check out the more coverage link.
Google adding web-based in-app payments, probably some time in May
It's not enough that you'll soon be able to make in-app purchases on Android, Google wants to give you an outlet for your app spending online as well. The search giant is hard at work turning last year's acquisition of Jambool and its Social Gold software into a web-based in-app payments platform it can call its own. Jambool's proprietors have word that Google's system is now in beta, which has led it to close new signups for the Social Gold offering, ahead of halting payment processing entirely on May 31st. That should serve as a pretty reliable guide for when to expect Google to flip the switch on its in-app purchasing service, which we're hearing will include some level of integration with Google Checkout and Google accounts. As TechCrunch points out, the next Google I/O gathering is scheduled for May 10th -- sounds about the right time for us to be introduced to this new, app-based way for separating us from our hard-earned cash.
App Store terms and conditions updated to cover subscriptions
If you download The Daily (or any other app) from the App Store today, you'll be prompted to read and accept new terms and conditions. The update addresses subscriptions; something we and publishers have been anticipating and debating for a long time. According to the new T&C, "Purchases of subscriptions to access the Services available through the Licensed Application are controlled, handled and processed by Apple and all payment and all other matters regarding such purchases (including any information you submit or that may be collected in connection with such purchases) are subject to and governed by the applicable Terms of Service and Privacy Policy of Apple. Accordingly, we encourage that you review Apple's policies prior to making any purchase." During this morning's announcement, The Daily became the very first newspaper app in the store to offer customers a subscription option. Users can opt to pay either US$0.99 per week or $39.99 annually as a one-time payment from within the app. During the question and answer session that followed, Apple's Eddy Cue was asked if and when this model would be extended to other app store publishers. His only answer was "very soon." We can only assume that publishers' ears perked up at that comment. For example, Time, Inc. and Apple have been at odds over the very model that The Daily uses for some time. In fact, Time went so far as to say that cost-cutting and other related problems have actually hindered the development of its Sports Illustrated app. Now that the cat is out of the bag, we expect to see subscriptions roll out within the month, maybe even the fortnight. Eliminating per-issue costs should help to reduce the slide that iPad magazines are currently experiencing.
