Stop ignoring us, Aussies tell Google

Google is facing a wave of complaints from users around the globe after it launched yet another service that is only available to those who live in the United States.

On one of its in-house blogs this week, Google 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 that 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 and Google Music are some of the products on the list that have not seen a local launch.

For some time over the past several years, but no longer, Australian software developers were not able to sell apps through Google's Android Market platform, due to what appeared to be a problem with Google Checkout, the online payment processing system that allows users to store their credit card information with their Google account.

Google is not the only one to limit a number of products to the US market only.

Fellow technology giant Apple appears to normally attempt to launch products as widely as possible — for example, unlike Google, its own iOS platform does feature the ability to buy books online in Australia. And overnight it harmonised many of its software purchase prices internationally. However, the company also today launched a new bulk app purchasing program for its end user devices, but limited it to US customers only.

In response to the comments, Google Australia said the company always tried to make its products and services available to as many users and as quickly as possible. "The new Android Market will be rolling out in the coming weeks to Android 2.2 and higher phones around the world," it said.