Android Market turns on paid-for apps

UK users can now download priced applications from Android Market

Users of the T-Mobile G1 handset in the UK now have access to paid-for applications from Google's Android Market, which should lead to a broader choice of software.

Developers can now set prices for customers to download and use applications from Android Market, the online store for Google's Android smartphone platform. Previously, only free-to-download applications were available in this country.

Android Market started accepting priced applications from US and UK developers in February, but these were available only to US customers.

One of the first paid-for applications to go live is a video game, Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile.

Richard Warmsley, T-Mobile's head of internet and entertainment, said that the openness of Android made it easy for developers to put an application onto Android Market.

"For a T-Mobile G1 customer, this means more choice, and some very exciting ideas coming to life from all over the world," he said.

T-Mobile's G1 handset, available since last December, is currently the only Android smartphone shipping in the UK. However, Vodafone recently announced plans to release the HTC Magic handset in April.

Google also announced an updated version of the Android platform earlier this week. Version 1.1 adds a few user interface features and a number of fixes, according to a blog post.

The update was delivered to T-Mobile G1 users a few weeks ago, while developers can now download a compatible developer kit for the Android Dev Phone.