Now that Google and RIM have added support for in-app purchases to Android and Blackberry devices, it was clearly time for HP to follow suit, and sure enough word is making the rounds that webOS in-app purchases will be available this summer.

The move will allow webOS developers to offer free or paid apps with optional updates or extra features which users will be able to unlock by making purchases within the app. It also opens the door to selling subscription-based content such as newspapers or magazines in the Palm App Catalog.

HP is also adding support for developer promo codes, which will allow developers to send review units of their software to journalists.

via PreCentral

It looks like at least some HP/Palm webOS users will soon be able to pay for apps purchased from the Palm App Catalog on their phone bills. Palm VP Joe Hayashi has confirmed that carrier billing will be available from some carriers early next year.

There’s no word on which carriers will offer this option, or even which countries it will be available in. Carrier billing will be opt-in, which means that you can still choose to pay for apps with a credit card if you don’t want the purchases added to your monthly phone bill.

Promo codes are also coming in early 2011, which will let developers, HP, or carriers to offer free downloads of paid apps. For some reason, promo codes can’t be used for discounts — just free apps.

Palm App Catalog

There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps available for the iPhone. Google’s Android Market list is approaching 100,000 apps. Palm’s WebOS, on the other hand, has only about 3400 apps. But that number is about to get a major boost, thanks to HP’s engineers.

HP recently acquired Palm, and HP CTO Phil McKinney challenged the company’s employees to start developing apps for the platform. According to a recent Tweet, McKinney says that about 500 apps came out of the challenge and the company is in the process of selecting the “best apps.”

It’s not entirely clear whether all 500 apps will be added to the Palm App Catalog, but it looks like there are a lot more people developing for the platform now than there used to be, which is always a good thing.

via PreCentral and Download Squad

Palm has been running a promotion that lets Pre and Pixie users purchase almost every WebOS app available in the Palm App catalog for half price. The promotion started June 9th, and was supposed to run through July 9th… but Palm has decided to extend the promotion by another two weeks.

That means that almost any app you purchase from the Palm App Catalog between now and July 23rd will be half price.

via PreCentral

Have your eye on a couple of apps in the Palm App Catalog, but don’t feel like spending a buck or more? No worries. Palm is running a promotion that will let you pick up almost any WebOS app in the App Catalog for half price between today and July 9th.

The only catch is that the promotion is only good in the US.

There are a few programs that are not discounted. But this is the kind of sale that doesn’t come around too often, so if you happen to have a Palm Pre or Pixie, it might be a good time to run through the App Catalog and see if anything catches your fancy.

via PreCentral

The Palm App Catalog has a mix of free and paid apps — just like every other mobile app store around. But that’s only if you live in the US. International Palm Pre and Pixie users have been limited to downloading free apps. While that might be good for your wallet, it’s not so great if you have your eye on a cool app that actually costs a few bucks.

Now it looks like Palm is preparing to launch a “mini update” that will make it possible for at least some European users to download paid apps. German wireless provider O2 sent out a message on Twitter about the upcoming update. There’s no word on whether folks with WebOS phones in other European countries will get the same update tonight, I wouldn’t be surprised.

via Pre Central