RIM enables in-app purchases via new BlackBerry Payment Service

Research In Motion (NASDAQ:RIMM) introduced its BlackBerry Payment Service and accompanying SDK, enabling developers to monetize their software via in-application content purchase options. According to RIM, BlackBerry App World developers can offer in-app digital goods including content (e.g., ebooks, magazines, photos or artwork), additional functionality (like new features, levels, characters or games) and services like video streaming or voice transcription. RIM does not allow BlackBerry developers to sell virtual currencies or in-app credits, physical goods or services, and digital goods used across multiple applications. The BlackBerry Payment Service SDK is available for download here.

In-app purchases represent an increasingly significant share of developer revenues on Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) rival iOS platform, according to app store analytics firm Distimo--in-app transactions across free and premium apps now account for 49 percent of iPhone developer revenues and 29 percent of iPad developer income, the firm reports. Distimo adds that BlackBerry App World now offers about 18,000 applications in all.

For more:
- read this BlackBerry Developers Blog entry

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