NEW YORK: Facebook is letting app developers charge subscription fees, in addition to existing one-time payments, for games and other applications on its site.
Facebook Inc. said on its developer blog Tuesday that the subscription feature will be available in July.
The changes open up a new revenue stream for developers as well as for Facebook, which takes a 30 percent cut from all payments on its site.
People will still be able to make payments on a one-time basis. Facebook is also replacing its own Credits currency with users' local currency. So US users will pay in dollars and those in Japan will pay in yen.
Payments for virtual items, such as chips on "Zynga Poker," accounted for 17 percent of Facebook's revenue in the first quarter. Facebook and General Electric launched an Olympics-themed app to get people to share health goals with their friends, from eating better to exercising.
Called HealthyShare, the free application gives users health challenges inspired by Olympic hopefuls such as basketball player Kevin Durant, sprinter Michael Johnson and swimmer Summer Sanders.
Users can share health and fitness goals they achieved through the app. Goals range from going for a walk to eating healthier or taking the stairs instead of the elevator.
The app also includes rudimentary workout challenges from the athletes.
The idea is to get people to share fitness goals and inspire their friends to do the same.
App developers to start subscription fee soon
