PayPal to Handle Payments for Samsung App Developers, Buyers

PayPal is now a payment option for Samsung Apps and Samsung Hub, and a payout option for Samsung Apps developers.

The agreement comes as Samsung launches a new app store for its Galaxy Gear smartwatch, which many carriers began selling this week. Samsung offers about 45 apps designed for its new watch, and has promised at least 70.

"Instead of waiting several days for wire transfers, Samsung Apps developers can now get paid quickly and securely through PayPal, gaining access to 132 million PayPal customers around the world," said Carey Kolaja, vice president of global product solutions for PayPal, in a blog post.

Consumers in nine countries can use PayPal to buy "apps, music, movies, TV shows, e-books and games" on Samsung devices, Kolaja wrote.

Those countries are Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, U.K. with the U.S. coming soon. Developers can accept PayPal payments worldwide. PayPal did not respond by deadline to questions about its timeframe for deploying in the U.S. and other countries.

PayPal has a history of striking deals with mobile manufacturers. In 2009, it was the sole payment provider for BlackBerry's app store, and PayPal is also a longtime payment option for Apple's iTunes.

Samsung is also developing a digital wallet that runs on Google's Android operating system. The U.S. version of Samsung Wallet resembles Apple's Passbook, which acts as a hub for accessing other payment apps. The South Korean version is capable of making payments.

PayPal's mobile payment volume increased to $14 billion in 2012 from $141 million in 2009. This year, the company expects to reach $20 billion in mobile commerce volume, according to comments eBay CEO John Donahoe made in July.