Gadgety News

If you’ve been less than impressed by the current downloads available on your Google G1 you may be relieved to hear that there’s a second wave a-coming.

Thing is, you’ll need to dip into your pocket to get them.
That’s right my Google Phone loving friends - paid apps are heading to Android and the UK and US are down as first countries to to get that app lovin.

According to Google’s Eric Chu, the Android market ‘will support priced applications starting early Q1 2009′ - so, anytime now then?

In theory the apps should kick up a level and mobile gamers should see some worthy things to buy as the likes of Gameloft and EA Mobile are said to be getting their wares ready for you to purchase.

Google is also bringing ‘localisation’ to the market, which in effect means country-specific apps.

I’m not overly sure what that means apart from perhaps weather reports, tube status and where the nearest Sausage & Mash shop is.

Pocket Gamer

O2’s just revealed the results of its first NFC trial.

This is the jobby that allows you to pay for things using the wireless power of your mobile blower.

The next phase is to whack this tech into the SIM cards themselves so that more phones can be used as a mobile wallet.

Declaring the trial a success, O2 said 90% of trialists were happy with the wireless payment tech, while 78% would use more contactless services if they were available.

At the moment, O2’s technology is capable of payment in shops using Barclaycard Visa payWave, as well as letting owners use London’s public transport network, thanks to Oyster card compatibility built in.

“There are two main pieces of infrastructure,” explained Claire Maslen head of NFC at O2, “the secure element on the SIM, and the antenna in the device. We still need a range of devices from handset vendors, but the intelligence will remain on the SIM. That also means we can send updates over the air.”

When will it be available? O2 says “Launching in six months would be hugely optimistic,” said Maslen. “Being able to deliver the best customer experience is important for us… It has to be mass market to make it successful.”

Would you trust this? Would you use this?

Let me know