In fact, recent reports have shown that Android owners are far less likely to buy applications than iPhone owners are? Why? Apple makes it easy to pay with an Apple account. Paying a single Android Developer for an application has made it more difficult for Android developers to see the same level of success that their iPhone-developing peers are seeing over in the iPhone Apps Store.
According to T-Mobile, the Market application update will be invisible to end users. No steps are necessary to receive the update, it happens automatically. T-Mobile says that it will stagger the roll-out, and that all users should have the market update no later than December 30.
T-Mobile notes, "Once you receive the update you will be able to purchase paid applications using your credit card or your T-Mobile account. Any applications uninstalled within 24 hours will NOT be charged to your T-Mobile account or credit card." I like the 24-hour "try-before-you-buy" option. That lets people take the application for a spin before committing to it.
Perhaps other operators -- including Sprint and Verizon Wireless in the U.S. -- will enable carrier billing too, giving Android developers a better chance to make a buck.