Freemium Android games ahoy! Google to launch in-app purchases for Android Market next week

Google has revealed that it will be launching an in-app purchasing system for the Android Market next week.

In-app purchases, for those not in the know, effectively allow developers to charge for in-game content without having to force the user to jump back and forth between the market and the app.

They’re the staple ingredient for making freemium games, as well as a good way for developers to make cash from an initially free download.

Of course, not everyone particularly likes IAPs as a way of paying for a game. Indeed, there have been quite a number of controversies surrounding children and purchases on iOS in the past five months (hello Smurf’s Village).

Whether or not similar stories will emerge following their implementation on Android, we’ll have to wait and see.