Google Launches Google Play

By Barbara E. Hernandez

| Tuesday, Mar 6, 2012 | Updated 12:42 PM PDT

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Google has launched Google Play, a rebranded version of the Android Market to reflect the company's multimedia offerings.

What was wrong with the old Android Market? Apparently it didn't sound cool enough, so now Google has created Google Play, a new "digital entertainment destination," that seems like a more graphics-heavy Android Market.

According to Google's Official blog, users can now: store up to 20,000 songs for free, download more than 450,000 Android apps and games, browse eBooks and rent movies. (Wait, couldn't you do that already?) Regardless, starting today, all will be rebranded Google Play -- possibly named for a future Android tablet in the works, according to Search Engine Land.

Google said it will also be offering a different album, book, video rental and Android app at a special price each day for its "7 Days to Play" sale. However, the new Google Play is only fully functional in the United States:

In the U.S., music, movies, books and Android apps are available in Google Play. In Canada and the U.K., we’ll offer movies, books and Android apps; in Australia, books and apps; and in Japan, movies and apps. Everywhere else, Google Play will be the new home for Android apps. Our long-term goal is to roll out as many different types of content as possible to people around the world . . .

Most analysts agree this is Google's attempt to create a more attractive and organized storefront, the lone advantage in Google's (and iTunes) app store war with Amazon. So either Amazon will follow suit with a new interface or risk losing business. Until then, Google is making sure to entice Android users to stay with its own market.

Related Topics Android, Amazon, Apple, Google, Google Play

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