Google seems to have quietly added India to the list of countries where they are offering merchant support for Google Android platform.

This means that if you are an Android app developer in India, you can now apply for a Google Checkout merchants account and start charging for apps.

This is good news and bad news for the Indian user of Android devices. This could mean that local apps that are free right now could become paid in the coming days. This also means that we are likely to see high quality apps offering more functionality for a fee.

At least developers would no longer have to rely upon advertising as the only mode of revenue through their apps.