When Google acquired Jambool in August of 2010, many rumors started flying around. After all, Jambool is and was a social network game payment group that helped “synchronize” payments for applications, creating a universal currency system and working as the merchant service for in-app purchases. Thus, the first place that Google analysts went with their assumptions was that Jambool was destined for “Google +1” social network functionality. While it’s too early to rule that out entirely, we now know that Jambool will be taking on another Google responsibility starting in May of this year.
According to an email sent out to Jambool users, “the existing Jambool Social Gold product will be discontinued in favor of a new Google in-app payment product in May 2011.” The message also acknowledges that the Google in-app functionality won’t do everything Jambool currently does, but ensures users that it will meet the needs of many web-based applications and will have expanding functionality in the future. Meanwhile, Jambool will stay open under the last day of May, allowing for a smooth transition.
What we know is that the in-app system will be for web-based applications, such as those currently available in the Chrome Web Store, and will function through Google Checkout. Exactly what limitations will be present haven’t been declared, nor do we know the exact date of the Google release. However, we can be pretty sure that May of 2011 is a solid date. The release may well coincide with the Google I/O conference early in May. At that conference, we will also get information on other summer releases, which may well take advantage of the new in-app payment functionality.
[via Tech Crunch]
