Google Play Nabs Direct Billing With Sprint

After rebranding its Android Market as Google Play last March, Google has been expanding direct-carrier billing with operators not just for Android apps, but for all of the digital content it now sells under one roof. Google announced that Sprint Nextel is the latest carrier in the US to enable direct billing for its subscribers to make purchases on Google Play and pay later on their monthly wireless bill.

Direct-carrier billing deals for Google Play could be important, as Android developers aim to make more money off the platform and Google presses deeper into the digital content space.

Sprint has been an important partner for Google in its mobile wallet endeavor as well. When the carrier launched Samsung's Galaxy Nexus last month it offered a $40 Google Wallet credit pre-loaded on the device. Indeed, Sprint is the only carrier to offer Google Wallet compatibility in the US and it is sitting on the sidelines while T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless and AT&T work together on their Isis joint venture.