BSS, Dhaka :
Individual Apps developers will now be able to go for billion dollar international marketplace of mobile application like Google, Windows and Blackberry with their products, thanks Bangladesh Bank for allowing online payment of fees.
In a circular yesterday, BB has allowed International Credit Card (ICC) issuing banks to issue ‘Virtual Card’ to individual developers/freelancers of mobile Apps and Games for online payment different fees.
“Certainly, it would create a big opportunity for our Apps developers who will now be able to use Apps stores of reputed online or mobile application marketplace for their products. . . ICT division had long been persuading the authorities concerned about it,” said ICT Secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan.
He said there are over 15,000 Apps developers in the country and many of them are waiting with their developed Apps to go to reputed online or mobile application marketplace like Google, Windows and Blackberry for international buyers.
But, as there was no legal channel to pay fees to Google, Windows and Blackberry etc, for registration, they were failing to display their products in internal marketplace for international buyers, he added.
According to the ICT Division of the Ministry for the Post, Telecom and Communication Technology, the government has been training up Apps developers side by side with private sector.
In its circular, Bangladesh Bank said ICC issuing banks may issue ‘Virtual Card’ to individual developers/freelancers of mobile Apps and Games having acknowledgements /training/bootcamps/ hackathons/course participation certificates on mobile application development arranged by government authority, BASIS, or its member organization and any other recognized training/academic institutes for online payment of fees.
The fees include a) registration/license fees to reputed online or mobile application marketplace like Google, iTunes, Firefox, Windows, Blackberry etc.; b) any associated license fees such as game engine or other software license for mobile application or game development; c) online training fees for programs such as vendor certification examination etc. and d) any domain registration/renewal, hosting/cloud solutions within the scope of mobile/game application development.
The release of foreign exchange for these purposes shall not exceed US$ 300 or its equivalent in a calendar year.
“Virtual Card Transactions” will have to be reported to Bangladesh Bank in accordance with its instructions.
