did not know where to post this question Google policy is that all in app purchases have to use their checkout system. i am going to be creating some apps for takeaway and eat in places near me and they offer delivery service. i was going to use a custom url screen to pull in a customized jotform so customers can order without having to call. the customers would then pay cash on delivery or via paypal or any other options i wish to include. will this be AGAINST Google policy as it is an in app purchase or will this be ok. if it is against policy is there a way round it. ie. use launch native browser to open a copy of html form hosted in dropbox or something as this will then take them out of the app so to speak. thanks in advance for any help in clearing this up.

I think so long as the user isnt initiating a payment as sorts, just placing an order - it will be OK, if you had your own payment system to pre-pay for the take away before it arrives (paypal button, custom HTML etc) then i could see an issue. Dave

I could do with a definite answer. I don't see how Google can stop this as one of the biggest apps on the market uses paypal for most transactions. Yes folks i refer to the mighty Ebay! There is also the paypal App! which you can use to send money anywhere to buy "goods and services" in app so i fail to see why Google has power to suspend any other apps.

Check the following link. I think this might help in solving your problem. http://developer.android.com/guide/google/play/billing/index.html

thanks for the replies. @Sandeep this document reads that it only applies to selling digital content from the app. however i am now confused as Google policy states "goods and services" "Paid and Free Applications Developers charging for applications and downloads from Android Market must do so by using an authorized Payment Processor. Developers offering additional content, goods, or services for an application downloaded from Android Market must offer an authorized Payment Processor as the payment option." so still lost. does this only apply to digital goods?

"In-app purchases: Developers offering additional content, services or functionality within an application downloaded from Google Play must use Google Play's payment system as the method of payment, except: where payment is primarily for physical goods or services (e.g. buying movie tickets; e.g. buying a publication where the price also includes a hard copy subscription); or where payment is for digital content or goods that may be consumed outside of the application itself (e.g. buying songs that can be played on other music players)" i think this answers question. they will be buying physical goods so any type of payments should be ok. please correct me if im wrong. thanks

In app billing is mostly used for the purpose of charging the paid contents of the app. Most of the apps which are popularly called as freemium apps, have this sort of approach. Make your users know more about your app before they buy the paid content. I also have seen an app form one of the fellow developer from bt who has an option in his app for donation via paypal. This might be a good option for you. You chan check his app on play stoer, its name is something Hackers Home or Red Hat Hacker.

customers will be buying physical goods. ie. kebabs, chips, pizzas etc so from what i posted above there should be no problem. donation would not work as i wanted delivery driver to collect cash at door. from what i read above in my post this will be ok won't it?

I am not so sure but i think if you are intending to sell physical goods and not any digital content inside the app, integrating the paypal wont be a problem.

thanks. there will only be physical goods sold and most likely be paid cash on delivery. however i may wish to include another payment method. perhaps someone will have defining answers but i will roll with anything is accepted as this seems to be what is described in Google statement. thanks

"charging for applications and downloads from Android Market must do so by using an authorized Payment Processor" "except: where payment is primarily for physical goods or services (e.g. buying movie tickets; e.g. buying a publication where the price also includes a hard copy subscription); or where payment is for digital content or goods that may be consumed outside of the application itself" These statements tell me that if you were selling something physical , or something digital to be used outside the app, you can use alternative payment methods. Your examples of eBay and Paypal are indicative of that; you primarily by physical items on eBay that will be used outside the app and therefore they can resort to their own payment methods. You are well within the guidelines yo use Paypal. Cheers, Dave

That is exactly the way interpreted the statement. I will assume this is what it means until i am told different. hopefully all will be well. i have another issue also. Google play state not to post "repetitive" content but this will be unavoidable due to the nature of the apps for takeaway places. do you think this will be an issue?

Same is true for Apple, In App purchase using PayPal (third party) is OK for non app content. Fred

Well i think if it were a game or something like that was essentially the same - it would be an issue, however since they are for different companies, i cant see that it would be a problem. They cant exactly say "you have made an app for one takeaway company, the others will have to suffer because it will be repetitive" I think you'll be fine Dave

Google play state not to post "repetitive" content but this will be unavoidable due to the nature of the apps for takeaway places. Both Apple & Google have this provision. It means, "Don't spam the app store. One app is all you need, unless it truly serves a different purpose". Fred

thanks. will proceed without fear now.