Airbitz Inc, a San Diego-based blockchain and data security company, has announced the release of its Bitcoin Wallet Plugin API, which will enable bitcoin service providers to easily develop fully integrated plugins for the Airbitz mobile app allowing Airbitz users access to third-party services.



The Plugin API has been internally deployed for almost a year for the integrated Glidera bitcoin buy/sell service and for discounted Starbucks and Target gift cards through Card for Coin Inc (Fold app). The startup says that the Airbitz plugin API dramatically improves the user experience of bitcoin by allowing access to services without the pain of copying & pasting addresses, scanning QR codes, or bouncing between apps.



Airbitz announced that the first partner to build a plugin using the public API is Bitrefill, which has integrated its mobile top-up service. In the next release of the Airbitz mobile app, Airbitz users around the world will be able to top up their prepaid mobile phones from over 600 operators in over 140 countries, right from within the Airbitz app through the soon to be released Bitrefill plugin, the official release said.



“Others have talked about offering plugin APIs, we’ve just delivered it”, Will Pangman, Airbitz COO, said in a statement.



Airbitz plugins are simple HTML/Javascript applications embedded in the Airbitz app which can access the user’s wallet to send & receive funds, authenticate with BitID, and save private, encrypted data using the Airbitz Edge Security Platform. All plugins are reviewed and verified by Airbitz for inclusion in monthly application releases.



In addition to the Plugin API, the already released Airbitz SDK will enable similarly tight integrations with external applications such as the Arcade City mobile ride sharing app, which launches on September 1, 2016.



“We’re excited by the potential of our new API and expect to see amazing integrations with applications such as marketplaces, exchanges, gift card vendors, remittance providers, games, and messaging apps”, Paul Puey, Airbitz CEO, said.



The company says that the ecosystem that it is building has all integration possibilities covered – smaller, mobile friendly apps can utilize the Plugin API within the Airbitz mobile app, while desktop, browser, and fully independent mobile apps can utilize the Airbitz SDK to integrate with Airbitz accounts and wallets. Developers can get started by visiting developer.airbitz.co/plugins.