Google To Stop Letting Developers Use Google Wallet To Sell Digital Goods

Back in 2012, Google launched an API that allowed developers to use the Google Wallet service to sell digital goods — things like music, or levels in a web game, or subscriptions to online magazines.

If you’re using that API, it’s time to find a replacement. Google has just announced that they’re killing it off in the first quarter of next year.

According to a notice posted on the Google Wallet developer site, devs have until March 2nd, 2015 to give their customers a heads up and implement a new solution. At that point, anyone trying to buy something through any service using the API will be met with a big ol’ 404 error.

One exception: Google notes that if you’re using Google Wallet in an app sold on the Google Play store, it’ll still work. Seems Google doesn’t want to deal with a bunch of applications breaking under what users would likely consider their roof.

It’s a bummer, particularly for those who might’ve built a small business around the API and will have to hire someone to supplant a new solution. Google says they have no plans to offer up an alternative, leaving developers to turn to something like Stripe or Paypal.

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