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In-App Purchases Coming to Windows Phone 8, Not Earlier Versions

Microsoft is finally bringing in-app purchases to Windows Phone, but it will only be available on the upcoming Windows Phone 8.

August 7, 2012

Microsoft is finally bringing in-app purchases to Windows Phone, but it will only be available on the upcoming Windows Phone 8.

Recent Microsoft guidelines confirm that users and developers working with the current version of Windows Phone - and the upcoming Windows Phone 7.8 upgrade - are out of luck when it comes to in-app purchases.

Windows Phone 8 is expected to debut in the fall. Microsoft that existing Windows Phone 7 devices will not be eligible for a full Windows Phone 8 upgrade. But they will get a small boost to Windows 7.8, which includes some but not all of the features coming to Windows Phone 8, like a new home screen with more columns, resizable tiles, and new themes.

The Verge said that Microsoft's wallet hub, slated to debut on Windows Phone 8 as an in-app purchase management system, could be why Windows Phone 7 will be left in the dust.

When asked why Microsoft has held out on allowing in-app purchases, a spokesman simply pointed PCMag to the Windows Phone Developer Blog and Windows Phone Blog.

"We will have more to share regarding Windows Phone 8 and the Windows Phone 7.8 update later this year," he said.

More details about submitting an app with in-app purchase components are available on Microsoft's Dev Center site. Microsoft today unveiled its with PayPal support and various infrastructure changes aimed at making app development a smoother process.

In-app purchases have been available via Apple's App Store and since September 2010. Google launched in-app billing in Google Play, then the Android Market, and in-app subscriptions. The Amazon Appstore in April.

For more, see .

Editor's Note: This story was updated at 1:35 p.m. Eastern with comment from Microsoft.