Cross Platform Engines have become critical tools for developers to build applications once and deploy their apps across the Google, Apple, and Amazon ecosystems to reach the greatest number of consumers.  Amazon has developed a number of plugins for cross platform tools to allow developers to utilize Amazon Services without the need to write boilerplate code to bridge cross platform code with native language Amazon APIs.  Amazon has released new plugins for Apache Cordova, Unity, Adobe Air, and Xamarin to allow developers to monetize their cross platform apps using Amazon In-App Purchasing.  The In-App Purchasing (IAP) API makes it easy to offer digital content and subscriptions for purchase within your app.  The newly released plugins enable cross platform developers to quickly get up and running, and give millions of Amazon customers the ability to purchase engaging digital content using Amazon 1-Click settings.  To learn more about IAP and pick up the latest plugin, check out the Amazon In-App Purchasing site.

Build Once and Deploy Across Multiple Platforms

Before you can use a plugin in an app, you need to include the plugin in the cross platform tool for use. Each tool has its own specific set of steps, and we have created a page to guide you through this process for Unity, Xamarin, Cordova, and Adobe Air. 

If you have never monetized an app or are new to Amazon IAP, it would be good to familiarize yourself with what In-App purchasing is here.  There were plugins built for Unity and Adobe Air for IAP v1.  If you are migrating your current app to the new IAP v2 plugin, now would be a good time to review what is new and the IAP v1 to IAP v2 migration guide.  And finally, if your current app uses Google Play In-App Billing (IAB), review the Amazon migration guide for Google Play developers for guidance on migrating your app to Amazon IAP.

During development, it’s a good idea to verify purchasing works in your app and you are able to handle successful purchases and error scenarios.  To test your app, you should download and install the Amazon App Tester.  The Amazon App Tester is a mobile app that is available in the Amazon Appstore.  You will need to download the Amazon Appstore to purchase and download the tester app to your test device.  Review the IAP Testing guide to unit test IAP purchases in your app.

Easily Add In-App Purchasing To Your App or Game

The IAP cross platform plugins are part of a single Amazon In-App Purchasing SDK (which you can download here) that also provides access to other Amazon mobile services and additional free plugins such as the plugin for GameCircle. 

To use the IAP plugins in your cross platform tool, first download the SDK and extract the zip file to the appropriate location on your development machine. Here’s what the Unity plugin part of the SDK folder looks like on my machine.  The plugins can be found off the root directory inside the zip file by their respective cross-platform tool name, AIR, Unity, Cordova, or Xamarin.

Each plugin makes similar sets of calls to the native IAP Java SDK, but making calls through the plugin differs based on the cross platform tool and language semantics.  There are code samples for each plugin type and I would suggest playing with the code samples in a test app.  Check out the code samples in your cross platform user’s guide below.

• Using the IAP Plugin for Unity
• Using the IAP Plugin for Adobe AIR
• Using the IAP Plugin for Cordova
• Using the IAP Plugin for Xamari

How to Get Started

Plugins make it easier than ever to integrate Amazon IAP, and other Amazon services into your mobile app.  You can now monetize your cross platform app without the need to write your own plugin or boilerplate code to integrate the native Java SDK and focus instead on building great apps and reach millions of Amazon Appstore customers.  Once you have used the plugin to integrate the Amazon IAP API, you will get paid for any In-App purchases your customers make in your app.

Here are some additional useful links to Amazon’s Cross Platform Engine support and Amazon In-App purchasing:

• Cross Platform Engines and free Amazon plugins
• Amazon Developer Portal
• Amazon In-App Purchasing
• Migrating Google IAB Apps to Amazon IAP
• Submitting Apps to the Amazon Appstore

Want Amazon Developer blogs delivered to your inbox? Stay in the loop on the latest industry best practices, Amazon promotions, and new launches by subscribing to our weekly blog summary here.