Google has announced a number of updates for Android Market, adding a number of new merchandising and billing features for developers and consumers. The company has finally unveiled the addition of a web storefront, enabling users to find and share applications from a browser, in addition to the standard handset client. It has also added support for billing in the buyer’s currency, enabling developers to have more control over how products are priced in different markets and allowing consumers to see prices in the appropriate form. Finally, the company has added in-app billing support, which it says “gives developers more ways to monetise their applications through new billing models including try-and-buy, virtual goods, upgrades, and more.”

The web version of Android Market will initially be available in English, and will be extended to other languages “in the weeks ahead.” Once users have selected an app, it will automatically be delivered to devices over-the-air.

Google says that Android Market supports the sale of apps in 32 countries globally. Its buyer’s currency feature will be introduced in stages, which it says “will take approximately four months” to complete. It will start by enabling the feature for US developers.

The company is rolling out in-app billing in stages. It has already made available detailed documentation and a sample application, to enable developers to “get familiar with the service.” In the coming weeks it will rollout enhancements to the Android Market that will enable it to test against the in-app billing service. Before the end of the quarter, the service will be live for users.

Google also showcased 17 applications optimised for its tablet-oriented Honeycomb (Android 3.0) platform. It has worked with partners including CNN, Disney Mobile, Glu Mobile, Ngmoco and Quickoffice to deliver tablet-targeted products.