Google (NSDQ: GOOG) will this week try to convince mobile game developers to adopt its improved in-app payments features, as it vies with Apple (NSDQ: AAPL) on the biggest revenue-generator in mobile’s biggest business area.
Google is setting up a stall and workshops for the initiative at Games Developer Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, just two blocks from where Apple is expected to unveil its latest iPad this week.
In recent weeks, Google enabled in-app payments in 17 more countries in eight currencies and simplified the process of creating a new Google Wallet account, which is required.
In-app payments have set a light under mobile gaming, ensuring developers can benefit from free downloads whilst profiting later from self-contained in-app purchases. That has put a rocket under titles like Angry Birds.
On iOS, which launched in-app payments in October 2009, the method made up half of the revenue of the top 200 grossing apps, according to Distimo. For Android, which launched in-app payments in March 2011 and takes a five percent cut for Google, that was 65 percent, Distimo said.
Payments subsequent to download are particularly important for Android because, compared with iOS, fewer Android users are likely to pay for initial app downloads.