Android Market is now Google Play

Élyse Betters | Mar 6 2012 - 1:42 pm PT

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Google announced it rebranded Android Market to “Google Play” today as a cloud-based digital entertainment destination.

“Starting today, Android Market, Google Music and the Google eBookstore will become part of Google Play,” explained Director of Digital Content Jamie Rosenberg on the Official Google Blog.

Google Play lets users find, enjoy and share content, such as music, movies, books and apps, on the web and on an Android smartphone or tablet. Moreover, the cloud service stores all of the content online. Google Play allots free storage for up to 20,000 songs, and it has downloads for more than 450,000 Android apps, eBooks browsing, and rent options for thousands of movies, HD titles, and new releases.

The integrated destination replaces and extends Android Market as an attempt to create a stronger brand with enticing offerings and slicked purchasing for an all-around better experience that will “drive traffic and revenue for the entire ecosystem,” according to Kenneth Lui on the Android Developer’s Blog.

More information is available below.

“On your Android phone or tablet, we’ll be upgrading the Android Market app to the Google Play Store app over the coming days,” Rosenburg added. “Your videos, books and music apps (in countries where they are available) will also be upgraded to Google Play Movies, Google Play Books and Google Play Music apps.”

Already-purchased content will still be available through Google play, because it features the same infrastructure as Android Market. Users can sign into their existing accounts and developers can use the same publishing tools.

“If your app was in Android Market yesterday, it’s in Google Play today,” contended Lui.

Google Play will roll out to devices in a phased over-the-air update starting today for devices running Android 2.2 or higher. Users will see the Android Market app upgrade to the Play Store app; and Music, Videos, and Books apps will appear as Play Music, Play Movies, and Play Books.

Rosenburg said Google’s long-term goal is to offer varied content to people all around the world:

In the U.S., music, movies, books and Android apps are available in Google Play. In Canada and the U.K., we’ll offer movies, books and Android apps; in Australia, books and apps; and in Japan, movies and apps. Everywhere else, Google Play will be the new home for Android apps.

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A comprehensive guide is available on Google Play’s About section for those seeking more information.

In addition, Google Play is offering a host of apps and diverse content at a special price each day for the next week in a “7 Days to Play” sale to celebrate the service’s launch. The Play Our Favorites section on Google Play showcases Top Selling apps priced at just 49 cents for a limited time.

A quick glance through the initial pages reveal a slew of apps with reduced price tags sporting between a 3.5-star to 5-star rating based on thousands of reviews.

A list of some of the more notable apps on-sale is available below.

“Quell Reflect” by FallenTreeGames

“World of Goo” by 2D BOY

“Homerun Battle 3D” by Com2uS

“Sniper Vs Sniper: Online” by Com2uS

“I Just Forgot – Little Critter” by Oceanhouse Media, Inc.

“Camera ZOOM FX” by androidslide

“SwiftKey X Keyboard” by TouchType Ltd

“TuneIn Radio Pro” by TuneIn

“SoundHound ∞” by SoundHound Inc.

“Paper Camera” by JFDP Labs LTD

“Osmos HD” by Hemisphere Games