Google releases OnePass, a payment system for publishers

Quite impeccable timing on Google's part, merely days after developers and publishers are up-in-arms over Apple's 30% cut for on-device content.<p>Well played Schmidt, well played.

The payment side is powered by Google Checkout, so the fee structure smacks Apple around all over the place. The most expensive tier (under $3000 in monthly sales) is 2.9% + $0.30. The cheapest is 1.9% + $0.30.

Android dabbler/developer here.<p>I like how google is empowering their developers with different pricing strategies. Before it was plain vanilla, either you pay, or its free. Yes you can pay for an app and within 15 minutes ask for a refund, but I have trouble sending in a rebate, I know i'll forgot within those 15 minutes.<p>With these extra payment options, and from what I understand, easy charging system, having someone drop a dollar on content with few clicks or even being able to implement coupons for your content/application will be greatly appreciated. =)

One Pass "also offers payments in mobile apps, in instances where the mobile OS terms permit transactions to take place outside of the app market." Nice dig.

In the blog post they say it will be "Open". What do they mean by that? Open source? Open for everyone in the world? From what I can tell in the post, it's only available in some countries, and it's also only available with Google Checkout.<p>I'm not saying those are bad things, just wondering what it has to do with "Open". Unless of course Google is just continuing to use it as a buzzword.

Doesn't this name clash with the Continental Airlines frequent flyer program name?

The signup page is linking my to a generic Google help page.

It's not just in response to Apple, the timing is just fortuitous, O'Reilly's Tools of Change ( a publishing industry conference ) is on in New York this week and it was probably timed to coincide with that event.

I had an urge to implement something similar while ago using OpenID. Since OpenID authentication has a handshake between a content website and an identity provider, it would provide the perfect channel for handling accounting. Paying to read an article would be as simple as logging in.<p>It is undeniable that Google has enough gravity as an identity provider to encourage publishers to adopt such a model.<p>I don't really see how to get people to pay for an article sight unseen, though. Familiarity with content by known authors may be enough for some.

I bet it's killed or unpopular and neglected within four years.

This is just a micropayment system from Google? Or am I missing something?

i wonder if you can use this as a generic web application paid subscription solution like a merchant + recurly (for example).

I wonder if the customer service for OnePass payments will be as good as it is for Google Checkout.<p>I'm thinking of previous discussions such as:<p><i>Google Checkout Nightmare and the $126,000 phone call</i>:<p><a href="http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1432107" rel="nofollow">http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1432107</a>