Google confirms premium Android apps coming in Q1

Google reiterated its earlier promises to allow developers to begin selling premium mobile applications through its Android Market virtual storefront, confirming premium Android apps will launch sometime in the next few weeks. "I would like to confirm that Android Market will support priced applications starting early Q1 2009, as we'd originally stated last fall," writes Android program manager Eric Chu in an email sent to registered Android Market developers. "Given the country-by-country work required to set up payment support for developers in different countries, we will enable priced app support in Q1 for developers operating in these countries in the following order: (1) United States and UK; (2) Germany, Austria and Netherlands; (3) France, Italy and Spain. By the end of Q1 2009, we will announce support for developers operating in additional countries." Chu adds that Android Market will also introduce a new country targeting feature enabling developers to optimize their applications for specific geographic markets--the feature will debut in mid-January.

Google first launched Android Market in October 2008 in tandem with the release of T-Mobile USA's G1, the first commercial handset powered by its Android mobile OS. At that time, the web services giant vowed to open the storefront to premium applications during the first quarter of 2009, adding it would hand over 70 percent of revenues to developers and allot the remaining 30 percent to operators and billing settlement fees, taking no cut for itself. "We believe this revenue model creates a fair and positive experience for users, developers and carriers," Chu wrote on the Android Developers Blog.

For more on the premium Android apps launch:
- read this TG Daily article