Angry Birds hits 50 million downloads, creates simple in-app purchases on Android
by Mike Butcher
on December 10, 2010

Idosyncratic Rovio, the company behind the smash hit Angry Birds game, likes to do things differently. Today they live streamed a press announcement about the game’s latest achievements, which featured an indie band, The Ran.

The main announcement was about “Bad Piggy Bank”. This is an in-game payment model for Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove the ad on the free version of the game or buy the Mighty Eagle update that’s on its way.

Bad Piggy Bank will not require credit card details, and downloads purchases instantly. It does this by charging in-app purchases to your mobile phone bill. But that’s not all.

Rovio plans to make this platform available to any other other Android developers, said Rovio’s Peter Vesterbacka. They are “not picking on Android particularly, but I think that the payment method up to now has been less than perfect,” he said on the live stream.

The Bad Piggy Bank facility launches in Finland first, with operator Elisa, and globally next year, since it requires deals to be struck with local telcos.

We called Vesterbacka and he had a few more things to add.

Angry Birds has now hit 50 million downloads and over 10 million on Android. He also confirmed Angry Birds will be coming to the PC, Mac and other gaming consoles and there will be some new things “happening online” in the new year.

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  • http://www.side-line.com bernard

    finally someone who can force telco’s to move their but and start charging like that as well. Welldone, you can become the paypal of the telco’s :)

  • westLa

    yeah! Telcos can s-ck th last mile of my d-ck.

  • Jonathan Frederickson

    Please tell me there’s a way to pay with PayPal/Google credentials as well… I don’t pay for my phone bill, so I’d much rather just pay for it that way.

  • josh

    great another reason for the corporate world not to implement android!

  • http://extremist-developer.tumblr.com Mikushi

    They should focus on making the game working properly on Android devices. It’s just not playable on the HTC Magic for example.

  • DPH

    On a side note, the free Pogo Games app launched on iTunes 2 days ago and is already the #1 free app….handily beating the Angry Birds free app.

  • http://www.iandroidcentral.com/2010/12/10/gameloft-outs-possible-new-android-titles-zynga-bringing-mafia-wars-to-android-this-month-rovio-introduces-in-app-billing-to-remove-ads-games/ GameLoft Outs Possible New Android Titles, Zynga bringing Mafia Wars to Android this Month, Rovio Introduces In-App Billing to Remove Ads [GAMES] | iAndroidCentral

    [...] We won’t see it much outside of Finland for the time being, but as Rovio inks deals with carriers around the world, you can expect it to be out in as many markets as one can imagine. Angry Birds has now been downloaded on Android over 10 million times. [via TechCrunch] [...]

  • Fedup

    Thank God!! Hopefully they can extend capabilities to other small developers who might want to charge a small amount for a product. Until the current entrenched payment providers deliver something that works without onerous (often impossible) fee structures, there is such a gaping hole. Its been many, many years that they’ve been talking about micro payments. Maybe Rovio can finally accomplish it.

  • http://www.jussivirtanen.fi Jussi

    Nice work! I hope that Angry Birds goes to show that great amounts of skill reside in Finland :)

  • http://www.slashgear.com/angry-birds-announce-bad-piggy-bank-functionality-for-android-10118894/ Angry Birds Announce “Bad Piggy Bank” Functionality for Android – SlashGear

    [...] next year “since it requires deals to be struck with local telcos.” Speaking with TechCrunch after the event, Vesterbacka added that Angry Birds was now at about 50 million downloads, over 10 [...]

  • Deeznutz

    I love angry birds! But as previously mentioned, they need to get the kinks out on Android. It works ok on mytouch phone but its not perfect.

  • socially

    Like Angry birds.. I also found another cool app in social networking category.. Vaayoo SocialBox..Check it out..Aggregates all social networks and allows you to post pictures/videos to all of them with single click..It also syncs up pics/videos to a private web folder..

  • http://www.droid-life.com/2010/12/10/angry-birds-introducing-ad-free-version-in-app-purchases-mighty-eagle-on-android/ Angry Birds Introducing Ad-free Version, In-app Purchases, Mighty Eagle on Android – Droid Life: A Droid Community Blog

    [...]  TechCrunch, Elisa [...]

  • http://jetlib.com/news/2010/12/10/angry-birds-hits-50m-downloads-and-plans-to-spread-simple-purchases-on-android/ Angry Birds Hits 50m Downloads And Plans To Spread Simple Purchases On Android | JetLib News

    [...] Read the rest of this entry » [...]

  • autojack

    Where can you turn for breaking news about Angry Birds/Rovio? TechCrunch, that’s where. And thank god for that.

    Seriously… every day is a new post about ANGRY BIRDS >:O

  • http://blog.dobert.pl Dobert

    50 million downloads and i still didnt play AB :(

  • http://organizedfellow.com OrganizedFellow

    To those complaining about Angry Birds not running well on the MyTouch3G, or other old devices:
    Angry Birds runs best on newer models. So stop whining and upgrade your phone.
    If you don’t have the funds to spend on a newer phone then the least you can do is ROOT your device and flash a 2.2 compatible ROM to your aging phone.
    Froyo will give you better performance.

  • http://www.inside.com.tw/12/11/bad-piggy-bank Android平台金流的領導者「Angry Birds」!? – Inside

    [...] Birds團隊最新的消息,他們將在Android的免費應用程式裡推出遊戲商城「壞豬仔銀行(Bad Piggy [...]

  • http://www.theandroidforum.com/blog/rovio-to-ring-in-new-year-with-in-app-purchases-in-angry-birds/ The Android Developer forum Blog » Rovio to Ring in New Year With In-App Purchases in Angry Birds

    [...] tune of a million bucks per month.  So what’s next for the game?  How about being able to pay to remove those little [...]

  • http://www.kicero.be/2010/12/11/angry-birds-maker-kondigt-in-app-betaling-en-pc-versie-aan/ Angry Birds-maker kondigt in-app-betaling en pc-versie aan » Clippy.be

    [...] update die in-app-betalingen mogelijk moet maken wordt uitgebracht voor Android. Angry Birds voor Googles mobiele besturingssysteem is, in tegenstelling tot de [...]

  • http://www.androhit.com/les-news/une-version-saint-valentin-dangry-birds-seasons-pour-fevrier-et-le-paiement-in-game-disponible-prochainement/ Une version « Saint Valentin » d’Angry Birds Seasons pour Février et le paiement « in-game » disponible prochainement | androhit

    [...] YLE et TechCrunch] Tags : androhit • android • angry birds • jeu • rovio • saint valentin • seasons [...]

  • http://frankenstone.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/angry-birds-hits-50-million-downloads-creates-simple-in-app-purchases-on-android/ Angry Birds hits 50 million downloads, creates simple in-app purchases on Android | Frankenstone's Blog

    [...] Source:http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/12/10/angry-birds-50-million-downloads-and-creates-simple-in-app-purch… [...]

  • http://www.ifanr.com/27584 Rovio 推出 Android 新支付方式 | 爱范儿: 拇指资讯小众讨论

    [...] Via:TechCrunch [...]

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    [...] update die in-app-betalingen mogelijk moet maken wordt uitgebracht voor Android. Angry Birds voor Googles mobiele besturingssysteem is, in tegenstelling tot de [...]

  • http://eu.techcrunch.com/2010/12/13/fortumo-cracks-open-the-angry-piggy-bank-to-let-android-developers-offer-carrier-billed-in-app-purchases-including-offline-payments/ Fortumo cracks open the (Angry Birds) Piggy Bank to let Android developers offer carrier billing via SMS

    [...] remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://www.tech-bubble.com/2010/12/13/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms/ Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | Tech-Bubble

    [...] You remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://jetlib.com/news/2010/12/13/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms-2/ Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | JetLib News

    [...] are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.You remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://www.howtointernetme.com/2010/12/angry-birds-bad-piggy-bank-affords-in-game-buys.html Angry Birds’ Bad Piggy Bank affords in-game buys

    [...] first, and globally next year–will also let players download the Mighty Eagle cheat. As TechCrunch reports, Rovio’s Peter Vesterbacka said the company was “not picking on Android particularly, [...]

  • http://ossifieddome14.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms/ Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | Ossifieddome14's Blog

    [...] Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS Posted on December 13, 2010 by ossifieddome14 You remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://infinitesoftware.biz/?p=931 Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | Infinite Software

    [...] remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove the [...]

  • http://teamnational.ramboseo.com/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms/ Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS « Team National News

    [...] remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://extreme-sports.us/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms/ Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | Extreme Sports US

    [...] remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://www.techwitted.com/2010/12/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating | techwitted.com

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments Engadget Tweet This Post [...]

  • http://linksalphatest2.wordpress.com/2010/12/14/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating | linksalphatest2

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments Via [...]

  • http://geekcity.co/index.php/2010/12/14/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating « Geek City

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments [...]

  • http://ashishbajaj.com/gadgets/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating | AshishBajaj.com

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email this | Comments [...]

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  • http://www.gadgetvenue.com/angry-birds-50-million-downloads-12144009/ Angry Birds Now at 50 Million Downloads

    [...] popular Angry Birds series of games.The breakdown wasn't fully complete when Vesterbacka spoke to TechCrunch, but what he did say was that 10 million of those were downloads on Android and we suspect that the [...]

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    [...] “Rovio” vor kurzem bekannt gaben wurden die “wütenden Vögel” mehr als 50 Millionen mal heruntergeladen. Davon gehen 10 Millionen Downloads auf das Konto von Googles Betriebssystem [...]

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  • http://gadgetech.org/angry-birds-now-at-50-million-downloads Angry Birds Now at 50 Million Downloads | Gadget Tech

    [...] breakdown wasn’t fully complete when Vesterbacka spoke to TechCrunch, but what he did say was that 10 million of those were downloads on Android and we suspect that the [...]

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    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email [...]

  • http://springbatie.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating | springbatie

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email [...]

  • http://statuesquejail5.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/angry-birds-nets-50-million-downloads-still-not-enough-for-a-three-star-rating/ Angry Birds nets 50 million downloads, still not enough for a three-star rating | Statuesquejail5's Blog

    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email [...]

  • http://techcocktail.com/angry-birds-meet-bad-piggy-bank-2010-12 Angry Birds, Meet Bad Piggy Bank — Tech Cocktail

    [...] in Finland then worldwide next year, will also let players download the Mighty Eagle cheat.  As TechCrunch Europe reports, Rovio’s Peter Vesterbacka said the company was “not picking on Android particularly, [...]

  • http://answerguy.com/2010/12/16/angry-birds-smartphone-business-change/ The Next Amazon.com: Angry Birds and Business Change

    [...] so angry any more. See what a few gazillion dollars and a business change model will do for a guy?As of about a week ago, Angry Birds had been downloaded fifty million times. All by itself that’s an amazing number, and forget about the fact that Angry Birds sells for [...]

  • http://ohsugar.com.au/2010/12/13/fortumo-cracks-open-piggy-bank-to-let-android-devs-offer-carrier-billing-via-sms/ Oh, Sugar! » Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS

    [...] remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove the [...]

  • http://nanek.name/ Lance Nanek

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    https://www.x.com/message/176744

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    [...]  |  TechCrunch  | Email [...]

  • http://mimeeja.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/rovio-angry-birds/ Rovio กับการมองไกลไปกว่าแค่เกม Angry Birds? « Mimee’s Blog

    [...] แหล่งที่มา : Techcrunch [...]

  • http://motorwayoflife.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/android-app-review-4/ Android App Review (4) « Motorway Of Life

    [...] Angry Birds hits 50 million downloads, creates simple in-app purchases on Android (eu.techcrunch.com) [...]

  • http://www.write-well.co.uk/?p=39 Why Mandarin won’t phase out English yet

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  • http://www.ipodrepublic.com/lead-story/gear4-angrybirds-iphone-case/2010/12/21/ Games as an accessory platform: The Angry Birds Case | iPod Republic

    [...] over 50 million downloads the Angry Birds application is a true success story for this new gaming platform based around the iOS devices; iPod [...]

  • http://getthejist.com/2010/12/angry-birds/ Angry Birds? I guess mo’ money mo’ problems : The Jist

    [...] TechCrunch // Share| [...]

  • http://epicbattleaxe.com/angry-birds-flies-into-ps3-psp-this-week/ EpicBattleAxe » Blog Archive » Angry Birds Flies into PS3, PSP this Week | Cry Havoc and Let Your Voice Be Heard!

    [...] Angry Birds has been downloaded 50 million times on iOS and Android devices, but if you’ve been in a coma for the past year and are not [...]

  • http://transmythology.com/2011/01/17/angry-birds-casual-gaming-to-transmedia-franchise/ Angry Birds: Casual Gaming to Transmedia Franchise? | Transmythology

    [...] you may not be aware of is that the enormous success of Angry Birds – it has racked up over 50 million downloads – its creators are aiming at a somewhat loftier goal: the creation of a Transmedia franchise. [...]

  • http://www.hwr-blog.de/angry-birds-verhelfen-mobile-gaming-zum-success/ Angry Birds verhelfen Mobile Gaming zum Success ! | Success & Failure

    [...] Zurück aber zu Angry Birds, zunächst nur auf dem AppStore erhältlich, hat es sicherlich auch zu Apple’s Erfolg in diesem neuen Marktsegment beigetragen (Genaueres dazu von Tomas). Mit voranschreitendem Erfolg und den rasant ansteigenden Downloads, gab es schnell Ports für andere Betriebssysteme. Insgesamt wurde AngryBirds über 50 millionen Mal heruntergeladen. [...]

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  • http://cerebelo.co/?p=38 Como pequenas produtoras foram varridas da App Store

    [...] atualizado com novas fases e diversas opções de aquisições in-app. O jogo já registra mais de 60 milhões de downloads, enquanto produtos à parte como a Mighty Eagle atraem cada vez mais usuários interessados a [...]

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    [...] The unfortunate truth is that native mobile apps do not have reach. Sure, Angry Birds racked up 40 million iOS downloads after its first year, but the success stories you hear are all anomalies. According to Pinch Media, [...]

  • http://societyofdigitalagencies.org/2011/07/invest-in-mobile-apps-for-the-right-reasons/ SocietyOfDigitalAgencies

    [...] The unfortunate truth is that native mobile apps do not have reach. Sure, Angry Birds racked up 40 million iOS downloads after its first year, but the success stories you hear are all anomalies. According to Pinch Media, [...]

  • http://mindspew.net/?p=3069 Fortumo Cracks Open Piggy Bank To Let Android Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS | Mind Spew

    [...] Devs Offer Carrier Billing Via SMS July 29, 2011 By Chief Spewer Leave a Comment You remember Bad Piggy Bank, the in-game payment model for Rovio‘s Angry Birds on Android which lets users either remove [...]

  • http://nguoidentubinhduong.wordpress.com/2012/02/14/angry-birds/ Angry Birds « Người Đến Từ Bình Dương

    [...] Mike Butcher, “Angry Birds hits 50 million downloads, creates simple in-app purchases on Android” , TechCenter Europe, 10 tháng 12 năm 2010. Truy cập 6 tháng 8 năm [...]

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