Google has rolled out an update to its in-app billing feature for apps distributed through the Google Play Store. Now developers can charge for subscription content using the same in-app billing service.

In other words, you’ll be able to subscribe to newspapers or magazines, pay for music subscription services, or make recurring payments for games or other apps that require subscriptions — and the apps will use the Google Play Store for billing.

Google in-app subscriptions

That means if you have your Google account linked to a credit card, you can use that same card to pay for subscription content without entering any new data. If your app payments show up on your monthly phone bill, subscription content purchases will show up on your carrier’s bill too.

When you sign up for a subscription the Play Store will show you how much you’ll be charged each month. You can also manage your apps to cancel a subscription or view your renewal date.

Brad Linder

Brad Linder is editor of Liliputing and Mobiputing. He's been tinkering with mobile tech for decades and writing about it since...