Stop favouring the US, customers tell Google

Renai LeMay
Thursday, 14 July 2011 16:07

IT Industry - Strategy

On one of its in-house blogs this week, the company revealed it had launched a new marketplace for its Android mobile platform which dramatically expands the platform's functionality, allowing users to rent movies and purchase books. The Android Market has also been overhauled in general to make it easier for users to find applications.

However, the book and movie purchasing functionality is limited to customers in the US only, a fact which has drawn the ire of customers located in other regions. 'In the US,' wrote one user in response to Google's blog. 'Also in the US, along with Google Music and Google Voice, both available in the US. Here's to the centre of the universe.'

'Pity it's tied to US market only, AGAIN,' wrote another user. 'There are so many Google products that are only available in the US that Google is really starting to seem like a US-oriented company,' added a third. 'I think this perception will be bad for Google, and I hope you will soon bring more of your services to other countries.'

'What a load of rubbish,' wrote yet another user. 'I should never have dropped my iPhone for an Android. When will these 'new' features be available in Australia?'

Google has launched a string of products over the past few years which have not been available outside its home country of the US in general, and not available in Australia in particular. Google Voice, YouTube Movie Rentals, Google Books, the company's Chromebook line of laptops and Google Music are some of the products on the list which have not seen a local launch.