Google announces more direct carrier billing for Play Store Purchases

Many people have struggled with buying applications, games, books, movies and Music via the Play Store on our Android devices. Mostly due to the need for a credit card of some sort attached to your Google account to do so. Personally, I like the idea of not having carrier billing. It prevents me from buying things I can’t afford now and most likely can’t afford when my phone bill arrives. It is also convenient if you have kids on your account with Android devices, they seem to have very little understanding of money. For the rest of the responsible world though, direct carrier billing a huge plus for you guys.

A whole host of new carriers have just recently been added to the list of carrier billing from all across the globe. T-Mobile in U.S. has been added in giving the US 3 out 4 carriers supporting it.  Nope, you don’t see Verizon on there, not sure if you ever will either. Also a  few new carriers have been added in Japan and else where in the world.

I still have questions about all of this though. Will the charge not be pushed through to your carrier until after the refund policy time frame, or does it go through immediately? How long does the purchase payout take to find its way back to Google and the developers for their apps?  We still think Google needs a gift card set up, where someone can buy a physical or digital card and offer it to friends, family and anyone else they want to. I can’t imagine that being to difficult to achieve. Add that in with the ability to GIFT and app to a friend by sending it to their email for install. That is sure to boost sales and social interactions.

Source: G+ & Google