Google Play product manager Ibrahim Elbouchikhi updated the Android Developers Blog with news that Google Play customers will be able to make payments using their PayPal account. This option went live on Friday in 12 countries including the United States, Canada and Germany. Customers will be able to find this payment method within Google Wallet.
"Just enter your PayPal account login and you'll easily be able to make purchases. Our goal is to provide users with a frictionless payment experience, and this new integration is another example of how we work with partners from across the payments industry to deliver this to the user," Elbouchikhi writes.
In addition to adding PayPal, Google has also increased the number of territories that can use carrier billing. This allows customers to pay for items by charging the amount directly to their phone bill. However, there is a limit. Verizon Wireless, for example, allows customers to charge $20 per month.
Elbouchikhi says that carrier billing is now in 24 countries, including Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. The company has also expanded the number of countries that can use Google Play gift cards to a total of 13 including Japan and Germany.
"Sales of apps and games on Google Play are up by more than 300 percent over the past year. And today, two-thirds of Google Play purchases happen outside of the United States, with international sales continuing to climb. We're hoping to fuel this momentum by making Google Play payments easier and more convenient for people around the world," Elbouchikhi writes.
Phandroid points out that Google has updated the Play Store app as well, removing the color bar on music, movies and book listings. There's also a new UI for the permissions screen that crams everything down into short descriptions and icons, which can be expanded with a simple tap.
