Google to share Android Market revenues with operators

Google will hand over 70 percent of revenues to developers when its Android Market virtual storefront begins offering premium mobile applications in the first quarter of 2009. Equally noteworthy, the web services giant will allot the remaining 30 percent to operators and billing settlement fees, taking no cut for itself. Writing on the Android Developers Blog, Android program manager Eric Chu says "We believe this revenue model creates a fair and positive experience for users, developers and carriers."

While Android Market launched this week with 50 free applications (among them multimedia, location-based tools, barcode scanners, travel guides and games), Chu states other developers will be able to register and upload their applications beginning Oct. 27. In order to guarantee that all developers are authenticated and responsible for their apps, Google will mandate registration and a one-time $25 application fee--from there, all applications can be made available without additional validation or approval. "To share your app with the world, simply register, upload your application and publish it," Chu adds. "It's really that easy."

Android Market will institute user ratings and anonymous usage statistics to determine how applications are ranked and presented. Chu notes that additional tools and enhancements are forthcoming, adding Google expects to see new Android-powered devices rolling out in the coming months. T-Mobile USA released the HTC-produced G1, the first commercial Android handset, Wednesday.

For more on the Android Market revenue split:
- read this Android Developers Blog entry