RIM Introduces BlackBerry Payment Service and Payment Service SDK

Over at the BlackBerry Dev Blog, they have written and let us know that RIM has just released a new service, Payment Service SDK Beta, which allows for live in-application purchases via the new BlackBerry® Payment Service. This allows you to monetize your applications through BlackBerry® App World™. More button for features >>

  • Digital Content – Digital content can include items such as eBooks, magazines, photos, artwork, or digital property that you can use on a BlackBerry® device.
  • Additional Functionality – Additional functionality can include new features, levels, characters, or games. These digital goods can be distributed with the application and unlocked for a BlackBerry device user after a purchase. Additional functionality must always exist in the application code when you submit your application. Digital goods cannot add to or modify existing application code in any way.
  • Services – Services can include any kind of digital service that a BlackBerry device user must pay to use. For example, your application could offer video streaming or voice transcription.

On the other hand, here are some examples of what you can’t sell:

  • Virtual currencies or in-app credits – The BlackBerry Payment Service does not permit the sale of digital currencies or in-app credits that can be used to purchase digital goods. Using an intermediary currency to sell digital goods can cause confusion as to what exactly is being purchased.
  • Physical goods or services – All in-app purchases must be content that is usable on the BlackBerry device. You can’t use the BlackBerry Payment Service to sell physical goods or services.
  • Digital goods used across multiple applications – You can’t sell digital goods that can be used with other applications. For example, you can’t sell a car in one game that can be used in another game.

* For more information about restrictions on the types of digital goods that you can sell in your applications, see the BlackBerry App World Vendor Guidelines.

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