There were hints by Google for a while that the Android Market would be seeing the addition of pay options for apps, and the team at Android Developers wrote a blog post outlining changes to the Android Market a couple days ago. According to AndroidGuys, T-Mobile is the only carrier currently with the option for customers to charge app purchases to a monthly phone bill, but that will likely soon change, as the Android Developers team will shortly reveal their new payment methods.
BoyGeniusReport adds that "according to the posting, Google is introducing new payment options for the Android Market and has added “authorized carriers” as an indemnified party." They also write that Android app developers are being alerted to the changes in the Android Market Developer Distribution Agreement "and have 30 days to accept these new terms."
AndroidGuys also notes that because "the Developer Agreement changes take effect in 30 days, our guess is that the changes are at least a month out."
There are many markets currently with Android phones, but no ability to purchase apps. It remains to be seen whether this new payment method will open up new markets to paid apps, or will only act as a supplement to the existing system.
Taking a somewhat less optimistic view of this development, TalkAndroid notes that "we’ll all be more likely to blow a gasket when our cell phone bills arrive."
Other Sources: AndroidGuys, BoyGeniusReport, TalkAndroid
Image from TalkAndroid
justJay
Some apps like Slacker Radio Plus that have a monthly subscription fee already give you the option to pay through carrier (Verizon confirmed personally).