Creating value after the download
In-App Purchasing is the selling of digital content, such as virtual goods and subscriptions, from within your app. Apps can be designed to offer add-ons, new levels, virtual goods or even upgrades from a free app to a paid one, all without leaving the application.
In-App Purchasing gives you benefits including
- Seamless consumer-friendly credit card and operator payment flows
- Access to Nokia's 130+ operator billing integrations to extend your reach
- Purchasing through a few simple API calls, without having to worry about payment processing
- Revenue sharing, with the same price points and earnings split as for Nokia Store content
Implementing In-App Purchasing can be as simple as using a few simple API calls, without having to worry about payment processing.
Platform support
Series 40: Series 40 beta API for In-App-Purchasing currently exists. The newly announced Nokia Asha 303 will be the first Series 40 phone capable of supporting In-App Purchasing. Developers can start preparing for the Nokia Asha 303's arrival now and use the Nokia SDK for Java to create In-App Purchasing capabilities using the beta API. To learn about the relevant API for In-App Purchasing, refer to the Quick Start guide for Java.
Symbian C++: Symbian C++ developers have beta API for incorporating In-App Purchasing into their apps in the Symbian C++ SDK. More information is contained in the Quick Start guide for Symbian C++.
How does In-App Purchasing work?
An In-App purchase happens when an end user selects and pays for additional content (such as a new level in a game) or services (such as a subscription) related to your application, without leaving the application.
Using the example of Series 40, developers use the Nokia SDK for Java's In-App Purchase API to create and integrate the in-app purchase functionality.
When making an in-app purchase, users are typically taken through a flow of purchase, authenticate and confirm, using either credit card or operator billing payment methods:
| Step1: Purchase | Step1: Authenticate (if applicable) | Step3: Confirm |
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Get started with In-App Purchasing
Developers for Series 40 can start integrating In-App Purchasing into their applications for the Nokia Asha 303 today, as part of the In-App purchase for Series 40 beta program. The program is designed to ramp up In-App Purchasing development in line with the launch and shipping date of the Nokia Asha 303.
