Amazon gets physical on in-app purchasing

Amazon recently introduced the Mobile Associates API for Kindle Fire and other Android devices that would allow developers to market both physical and digital goods within apps and games on the Amazon Appstore.
 
Developers stand to earn up to 6% on qualifying in-app customer purchases.
 
Today, developers who wanted to create additional revenue channels for their apps could use a “freemium” model with digital in-app purchasing or subscriptions, or by using mobile ads.
 
With the Mobile Associates API, Amazon said developers now have a new way to monetize their apps and games by offering contextually relevant goods across Amazon’s physical fulfillment network.
 
“Imagine a developer of a nutrition and fitness app can now offer their customers the ability to purchase vitamins, supplements and fitness gear within the app, directly from Amazon.com. It offers the customer a more relevant experience and provides the developer with a new source of revenue,” said Mike George, Vice President of Amazon Appstore, Games and Cloud Drive.
 
The Mobile Associates API is an extension of Amazon's web-based affiliate program Amazon Associates.