It looks like iOS developers will have yet another incentive to sell their apps upon Android after Google announced that the long awaited carrier billing feature is now live for AT&T customers.

Today, I am pleased to announce the availability of AT&T Direct Carrier Billing for Android users on the AT&T network. AT&T Android users can now easily charge their Android Market purchases to their monthly accounts with only a few clicks. With the combination of Android Market’s new app discovery features and a carrier-backed frictionless payment method, users will find it significantly easier to discover and purchase applications of their choice. [...]

We strongly believe carrier billing is a great way to make it easy for users to purchase and pay for applications. In addition to the availability of AT&T and T-Mobile US carrier billing, we’ll continue to partner with more carriers to offer carrier billing options for their subscribers. (Android Developers Blog)

Despite Android’s massive success (as one can tell by Steve Jobs loathing of the OS), Google’s mobile OS has not had as much luck in attracting premium developers, especially those upon iOS.

Since not everyone has (or wants) a Paypal or Google Checkout account, utilizing carrier billing should make it easier for developers to generate revenue off of their applications, which may convince iOS developers looking to expand their product to seriously give Android a hard look.

This could translate into Android not only matching iOS in the number of quality applications, but also help them surpass Apple in the number of total apps as well.

Related posts:

1. Google To Android Developers: Carrier Billing Now Included
2. Android Grows Up, Offers Developers A Reason To Join
3. Google: Android Premium App Sales Are Pathetic
4. FTC Going After Android?
5. Why Doesn’t Android Have 1 Million Apps Already?