Google Inc., stepping up competition with Apple Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. in digital media, unveiled a site called Google Play that lets users get Android applications, music, books and movies in one place.
The new service brings together Google’s various online stores that feature downloadable products, said Jamie Rosenberg, the company’s director of digital content. Mountain View, California-based Google begins to roll out the service on Tuesday on mobile devices that run its Android operating system and will release a Web browser-based version for personal computers.
“Now all of your media experiences with Google live in one place,” Rosenberg said in an interview. “It can really tie it all together for consumers.”
Google is trying to capitalize on its leadership in Internet search and smartphone software to grab a bigger piece of the digital-entertainment market, which is dominated by Apple. Apple has built its iTunes music store into a source of movies, TV shows and other content. Amazon, meanwhile, is the biggest seller of electronic books.
Google Play will give recommendations based on what users previously purchased, Rosenberg said. It also will make it easier for the developers and media companies to sell their apps and content.
Glu Mobile Inc., a provider of digital games, aims to take advantage of the unified approach, said Adam Flanders, senior vice president of sales and marketing at the San Francisco-based company. Users who are browsing songs or movies will be able to find Glu’s games more easily, he said.
“They’re improving just the whole user experience,” Flanders said.