By Adam Z. Lein

There’s some news today that the in-app purchasing feature for Windows Phone will only work with Windows Phone 8. CNET, The Verge, and others are reporting that in-app purchasing will not be available in the Windows Phone 7.8 update for existing devices. If you’re a current Windows Phone user, you might be confused since many of the Xbox LIVE games available already support in-app purchasing.  The feature first appeared when the Xbox LIVE Game called “Beards and Beaks” was released in September of 2011.  Since then many other games have supported in-app purchasing of additional game content including: Monster Island, Bug Village, Fragger, iStunt 2, and Gun Bros.

The difference here is that all of the existing games that support in-app purchasing are using the Xbox LIVE interface along with Microsoft Points for the purchasing of additional content.  The new direct credit-card or operator billing interface and APIs for in-app purchasing in other apps besides Xbox LIVE games is the one that will only be available in Windows Phone 8.

Is this something you’re dissapointed to hear?  Do you ever use the existing in-app purchasing options or do you feel like it’s often just a way to get you to spend more money?