Google Play, formerly the Android Market, is a digital distribution platform for applications for the Android operating system and an online electronics and digital media store, operated by Google. The service allows users to browse and download applications developed with the Android SDK and published through Google, as well as music, magazines, books, movies, and television programs. Users can also purchase hardware, such as Chromebooks, Google Nexus-branded mobile devices, Chromecasts, and accessories, through Google Play.[2]
Applications are available through Google Play either free of charge or at a cost. They can be downloaded directly to an Android or Google TV device through the Play Store mobile app, or by deploying the application to a device from the Google Play website.[3] Many applications can be targeted to specific users based on a particular hardware attribute of their device, such as a motion sensor (for motion-dependent games) or a front-facing camera (for online video calling).
On March 6, 2012, with the merging of the Android Market and Google Music, the service was renamed Google Play to coincide with the rebranding of Google's digital distribution strategy.[4] As of July 2013, the Google Play store officially reached over 1 million apps published and over 50 billion downloads.[5]
Play Music[edit]
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 16 November 2011 |
| Stable release | 5.3.1316M / December 5, 2013 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Android, iOS |
| Type | Digital distribution |
On November 16, 2011, Google introduced Google Music with a music store, Google+ integration, artist hubs, and purchasing reflected on T-Mobile phone bills.[6]The three major label partnerships announced were with Universal Music Group, EMI, and Sony Music Entertainment, along with other smaller labels. To celebrate the launch, several artists released free songs and exclusive albums through the store. The Rolling Stones debuted the live recording Brussels Affair (Live 1973)and Pearl Jam made available a live concert recorded in Toronto as 9.11.2011 Toronto, Canada.[7]
A cloud media player was first hinted at the Google 2010 I/O Conference, where Google Senior Vice-President of Social Vic Gundotra showed a "Music" section of the Android Market that would allow users to download music through the market.[8] The music streaming service was announced by Google on 10 May 2011 at its I/O conference as Music Beta and released as Google Music, before the rebrand to Google Play. The service supports streaming music to Android devices andweb browsers that can use the Adobe Flash platform.[9] At launch, the service was only available with an invitation and only to US residents.[10] In November 2011, however, it became open to the public, but still only for US residents.[11]
According to Google, there are hundreds of free songs in Google Play and millions available for purchase.[12] Users can also upload up to 20,000 of their songs to the service free of charge.[12] Songs in Google Music are priced at US$1.29, $0.99, $0.69, and free.[6] Users also get personalized recommendation based on what they listen to the most. Music can be played on the Google Play website or via Android and iOS devices. It can be stored for offline playback.[12]
Google also noted that "from time to time we'll be showcasing exclusive concerts and interviews available in Google Play."[13]
The service allows the user to automatically create a playlist of "songs that go well together"[14] using a feature known as Instant Mix.[14][15] Music and playlists imported to Google Play music can not alter playlists in other music program libraries, while changes in other applications are reflected in the Google Play music library.[16][17]
Alternative players are available for the service, for example G-Ear on the Mac, and GMusic on Windows.
On October 29, 2012, Google announced Google Play in the US and Europe would get song matching: the capability to scan a user's music library and make available any songs which are present on Google's servers without the need to upload them. Google also announced partnership with Warner Music Group, the last major music label not already presented in Google Music.[18] Google also announced that customers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK will be able to buy music on Google Play from November 13, 2012.[19]
Google Play Music is currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand,Russia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.[20][21]
Play Music All Access[edit]
On May 15, 2013 at Google I/O, Google announced Google Play Music All Access, a music streaming platform that will debut immediately in the US for $9.99 a month ($7.99 if signed up before June 30). The new service lets users combine the All Access catalog with their own library of up to 20,000 Songs. All Access is currently available in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.[20][22][23][24]
Play Books[edit]
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 3.1.17 / December 10, 2013 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Android, iOS |
| Type | Digital distribution |
Google Play Books carries over 4 million titles.[25] Purchased books are stored in the cloud and are available for both online and offline viewing either through a web browser or in the official apps for Android and iOS.
On May 15, 2013, Google updated the Google Play Books app on both Android and iOS to add support for user uploaded PDF and EPUB files. Users can store up to 1,000 files free of charge, as long as they are under 50MB.[26]
A Google Play Book, however, is only a license to read the book. If the purchaser happens to travel to a country where Google Play Books are not sold then the books on the device can be deleted. In such a case, the books would have to be re-downloaded after the traveler returns to a country where they are sold.[27]
Play Newsstand[edit]
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 20 November 2013 |
| Stable release | 3.0.1 / December 10, 2013 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Android |
| Type | Digital distribution |
Google Play offers the purchase of magazines in the United States, Australia, Canada,[29] and the United Kingdom.[30]
On November 20, 2013, Google Play Magazines was renamed Google Play Newsstand and combined the features of Google Currents and Magazines into one single product, which serves subscriptions to magazines, web feeds and server-generated topical feeds[31]
Play Movies & TV[edit]
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Stable release | 3.0.25 / December 6, 2013 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Android |
| Type | Digital distribution |
According to Google, there are thousands of movies and television shows available on Google Play Movies & TV, some in HD, including comedy, drama, animation, action and documentary.[12] Movies can be rented or purchased and watched on the Google Play website or via an application on an Android device. Some titles are only available for rental, some only for purchase, and others for both rental and purchase. TV shows can be purchased by episode or season but cannot be rented.[12] Alternatively, users can download movies and TV shows for offline viewing and view them later using the Google Play Movie app.[32]
Movies are available in 14 countries.[33] TV shows are available only in Japan, the US and the UK.[20]
Play Games[edit]
 | |
| Developer(s) | |
|---|---|
| Initial release | May 16, 2013 |
| Stable release | 1.1.06 / September 5, 2013 |
| Development status | Active |
| Operating system | Android |
| Type | Digital distribution |
Google Play Games is a service designed for Android, iOS and web which features real-time multiplayer capabilities, achievements, leaderboards and cloud saves. This service is similar to Apple's Game Center. Though it is already[when?] becoming a popular service, it is only available in a limited selection of games such as Super Stickman Golf 2, PBA Bowling, World of Goo, Osmos HD, and a few others. The service was introduced at Google's I/O 2013 Developer Conference along with many other new services, and the standalone app was launched on July 24 at an event called "Breakfast with Sundar Pichai" together with the new Nexus 7, Android 4.3 and the Chromecast.
Applications[edit]
Google Play makes free-of-charge applications available worldwide (except countries under US embargoes),[34] while paid applications are available in 129 countries.[35] Applications can be installed from the device or the Google Play website.[36] According to Google there are over 700,000 titles available as of October 2012.[12] Google Play can update the applications the user selects automatically, or users can update them on a per-case basis or update all applications at once.[12] Google Play filters the list of applications to those compatible with the user's device. In addition, users may face further restrictions to choice of applications where developers have tied-in their applications to particular carriers or countries for business reasons.[37] Carriers can also ban certain applications, for example tethering applications.[38]
Some carriers, such as Sprint, offer direct carrier billing for Google Play application purchases.[39] Purchases of unwanted applications can be refunded within15 minutes of the time of download.[40] There is no requirement that Android applications be acquired from Google Play Store. Users may download Android applications from a developer's website or through a third-party alternative to Google Play.[41]
As of 19 October 2012, developers in 32 countries were able to distribute paid applications on Google Play.[42] However, developers pay $25 for registration to distribute on the Google Play Store.[43] Application developers receive 70 percent of the application price, while the remaining 30% goes to distribution partner and operating fees.[44] Revenue earned from the Google Play is paid to developers via Google Wallet merchant accounts, or via Google AdSense accounts in some countries.[45]
On 17 March 2009, about 2,300 applications were available in Android Market, according to T-Mobile chief technical officer Cole Brodman.[46] On 10 May 2011, during the Google I/O, Google announced that Android Market had 200,000 applications listed and 4.5 billion applications installed.[47] In October 2012 Google announced that Google Play had 700,000 apps available to download, matching the number of apps in Apple's App Store.[48]
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