Ericsson (NSDQ: ERIC) is now turning its IPX mobile payment system to facilitate in-app payments for some mobile app types.
That could mean virtual goods, levels, news and other mobile content could be billed for by mobile carriers rather than app stores.
Ericsson says its IPX is used by over 120 mobile networks. If they could take a bigger slice of booming in-app payments revenue, they could start to claw some money back from app distributors who run over their cell towers.
But Ericsson is cagey on exactly how this might be deployed. Naturally, Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) would not allow carrier app billing. Pushed by paidContent, Ericsson said: “This is currently available on Android and J2ME applications, but there are plans to add others. Unfortunately Ericsson can’t comment on what platforms this will include.”
In-app purchases have grown to account for 52 percent of the revenue of 200 top-grossing iOS games, according to Distimo. Google (NSDQ: GOOG) began allowing Android in-app payments through Android/Google Checkout in March.