Google has unveiled a new feature to its Play Store app, which is pre-installed on almost all Android devices. This feature allows users to ask someone else to pay for an in-app purchase or for an app the person wants to use.
At its annual I/O 2024 developer conference, the tech giant introduced this feature alongside an array of cutting-edge tools for app developers.
The unique feature appears in the form of a “ask someone else to pay for this item” button and is compatible with all the apps that make use of Google Play Store's in-app purchase system, according to a report by Android Authority.
How does it work?
To use the new feature on Android devices, users are not required to do any additional work other than integrating the device with version six or later of the Play Billing Library.
Once a user clicks on the button, a message comes up stating that the person making the payment for the user must know their complete email address. Later, it generates a payment link that a user can share with the other person to make the purchase.
As per the report, the auto-generated payment link is “accompanied by a short text blurb that names the item the user wants to purchase and its price.” The blurb and payment link are then sent to the system share sheet, providing an option for the user to choose who to share it with.
Next, the receiver of the link will get a 24-hour window to complete the transaction process. After the completion of the available time, the link shall automatically expire.
Further, the report states that the “ask someone else to pay” option on the Google Play Store will be initially introduced for users in India. However, it did not mention the time when it is expected to roll out. Also, there is no clarity on whether this new feature will be offered in other markets as well.
Besides this, the Google Play Store is also planning a rollout of a bunch of other features. This includes the ability for family managers to complete a purchase for child accounts through web links as well as new badges to reflect trending items among others.
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