For a very brief period yesterday Aussies could access Amazon’s previously geoblocked App store. It’s now blocked again, but the same pattern appears to be happening worldwide. What’s Amazon up to?
Amazon’s App store offers an alternative Android app marketplace with a slicker appearance than the stock Android Marketplace, not to mention some genuinely good free apps each and every day. Great stuff, but it’s been blocked for users outside the US up until now. That blocking message is still present if you visit the Amazon App store site, but yesterday it appears that the veil was lifted, if only ever so briefly. Ausdroid reported on the Australian availability of the service yesterday, and from PocketGamer it appears that availability was also open to those in Holland and India.
It’s always possible that somebody in Amazon HQ accidentally spilled their soy latte on the wrong server, but equally, it could be Amazon testing the waters. I’ve just checked it, and it’s definitely blocked right now — but could this be a precursor to rolling out the service (and perhaps the Kindle tablet) worldwide? [Ausdroid and PocketGamer]
TSH
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 9:58 AMNow, what would be super-awesome would be an update for Kindle 3 that allows apps to be installed, and an app market for *that*. I’d pay a buck for a note-taker, basic MP3 player or quality RSS/Podcasting application. There are millions of Kindles out there already, and some of us would like to be doing more with ‘em!
EckyThump
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:02 AMCouldn’t care less about Apps personally, what I’d like to see is the main portal to Amazon opening its doors to Aussi buyers! I have a login, but I can’t get anything friggin posted! #]
Drew
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:10 AMOdd. I buy stuff from Amazon all the time without any problems. Somethings don’t get shipped outside the USA but for the most part its fine.
EckyThump
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:55 AMI must only be interested in the not outside US stuff then! I want to get a MX850 remote, but they won’t post that! #]
poedgirl
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 1:22 PMAll electronics from Amazon won’t be shipped outside the US. This is what we really want. I constantly search for things online and Amazon is always the cheapest. I’ve had to settle for places like B&H Photo & Video.
Adz
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 11:46 AMVery annoyed at the choice of eBooks from Amazon. Many just aren’t available to us here, even if we want to buy them.
Ozskeptic
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 12:02 PMTrue, but that’s the outdated book publishing model dictated by the publishing houses. I’m sure Amazon would love to sell e-books worldwide.
DPK
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 7:00 PMworst designed site, doesn’t allow to purchase anything without registering