The Google Play Store is getting another way for customers to buy apps.
Google has announced a new Play Store feature called "Pending Transactions" at I/O 2019. As noted by TechCrunch, the feature will allow Android users in emerging markets to buy apps with cash.
When using Pending Transactions, Android users can select the alternate payment method at checkout in the Play Store. They could then receive a payment code to show to a cashier at a nearby store and then pay for the app transaction with cash. Within 10 minutes of completing the transaction, the user will receive their purchased app along with a receipt, though the fine print says that the receipt could take up to 48 hours to arrive.
The one catch with this payment method is that if the user wants a refund on a purchased app, they'll receive Play Store credit rather than cash for their return.
This new Pending Transactions feature will be in the Google Play Billing Library version 2.0.
Google already offers a few different payment methods in the Play Store, including credit cards, PayPal, and carrier billing. Not all of those options are available to everyone, though, and so it's good to see Google expanding its Play Store payment methods to make buying Android apps easier for everyone.