Say goodbye to Android Market, and hello to Google Play.
The search giant has consolidated its apps, music, e-books and other services under the "Google Play" brand, tech site CNET reported.
CNET quoted Jamie Rosenberg, director of digital content for Google, as saying the move - which absorbs Google Music and Google eBookstore - seeks to create a more comprehensive source for movies, apps, music, and e-books.
"Google Play will become a single experience for users. This creates a more powerful experience around Android and also increases opportunities for content partners," CNET quoted Rosenberg as saying.
Rosenberg added the Google Play strategy has been in the works for some time, but did not specify how long.
He said the changes may take several days to roll out across the Android platform, but will not alter libraries or playlists.
A separate article on AndroidPit.com said Google Engineering Director Chris Yerga said the search giant had been thinking about the name change for quite some time, but felt it was finally time to make the change.
"Google's music app, for example, will be renamed Google Play Music ... The change will immediately go live, but updates will roll out over the next few days for affected apps," it said.
But CNET said the move may be an admission of sorts that Android Market's apps, games, and e-books may not be enough to remain competitive as rival app stores rise.
Rosenberg said "Google Play" is designed to break down the walls separating the company's various products.
'Shocking' brand shift
CNET said the branding shift is "shocking," considering the resources and energy spent into building the Android name.
However, "Android" will not die, as it the brand for Google's mobile operating system.
On the other hand, CNET said the move may appease critics who claim Google's approach to digital content is fragmented - with Google Music and YouTube's music videos as an example.
"When Google executives were pitching the idea of Google Music to the labels throughout much of 2010 and 2011, they spoke of closely integrating the service with YouTube's music videos, one of the bright spots in online music distribution. Yet the services never were combined," it noted.
Rosenberg said "Google Play" means music will no longer remain a standalone service.
Underachieving?
CNET also noted Android Market had struggled to generate the revenue of Apple's App Store.
It cited studies showing Android Market still lags far behind Apple in revenues.
"Music industry sources said Google Music had not met expectations on revenue or customer adoption. Following that report, others wrote that Google Music was actually losing customers," it noted.
But while Rosenberg declined to discuss revenues, he denied the service is losing customers.
He said Google Music is up to four million users, and the company is "excited about Google Music's growth." — TJD, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
