The Google Apps Marketplace went live today after being officially announced at a Google Campfire One event at Google's Mountain View headquarters.

"We've found that when businesses begin to experience the benefits of cloud computing, they want more," Chris Vander Mey, Product Manager for Google Apps Marketplace said.
"Today, we're making it easier for these users and software providers to do business in the cloud with a new online store for integrated business applications. The Google Apps Marketplace allows Google Apps customers to easily discover, deploy and manage cloud applications that integrate with Google Apps."

The store allows both businesses and software providers the ability to integrate numerous third-party applications into their Google Apps account - making the apps seem like they are native Google services. One important thing to note is that Google Apps administrators must first approve the application before it can be installed across a companies Apps account, meaning administrative approval from within an organisation needs to be gained before any purchase can be made.

Google was also quick to point out how easy it is to install these applications - according to them, it takes just four clicks and the installation and purchase is complete.

And not only have they made their intentions known about being the top one-stop shop for enterprise 'cloud-based' applications, Google has also confirmed that later this year the company will debut a new micro-payments platform to assist developers who sell their applications by subscription-based models.

The company remains coy on whether this service would be rolled out for other applications, such as micro-payments for Google News articles, with a spokesperson saying "we have nothing to announce at this time," but it's hard to believe it wouldn't be spread across more Google services if it's met with success.

This store has been rumoured since late last year, when reports surfaced suggesting the launch was just weeks away. It replaces the previously existing application promotion portal, which had seen limited success and almost no way for developers to integrate their applications into the Google Apps platform.