Paid-for Android apps hit the UK

Paid-for applications are now available for Google's Android in the UK.

The newly launched software update will mean more choice for G1 users and more scope for developers,' T-Mobile said.

The G1, exclusive to T-Mobile tariffs, is the first UK device to run on Android, the mobile phone software platform from Google's Open Handset Alliance. It provides a wide variety of downloads as any mobile developer is able to create their own applications for customers to download.

From today, developers that have signed up to Android will be able to charge for applications and games, and this in turn can fund future development. The developers will set the price of the new applications but over 1,000 will still be available free of charge.

Richard Warmsley, head of internet and entertainment for T-Mobile, said in a statement: "With the openness of Android and how easy it is to put an application or game on the Android Market, any budding developer from around the world can bring their ideas to life."

"With money to be made many more developers will join in."

One of the first applications to go live today was Guitar Hero World Tour Mobile' where you can play along to classic rock tracks using the phone's touch screen. Many more games, and more practical applications, are soon to follow.

The next Google phone to hit the UK is the HTC Magic, arriving next month on Vodafone.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer Scott is a former freelance journalist and currently political reporter for Sky News. She has a varied writing history, having started her career at Dennis Publishing, working in various roles across its business technology titles, including ITPro. Jennifer has specialised in a number of areas over the years and has produced a wealth of content for ITPro, focusing largely on data storage, networking, cloud computing, and telecommunications.

Most recently Jennifer has turned her skills to the political sphere and broadcast journalism, where she has worked for the BBC as a political reporter, before moving to Sky News.