It looks like Google is planning to establish a section in its Google Play Store for newspapers and other subscription-based news providers, à la Apple’s Newsstand. The blog Android Police uncovered a bit of Javascript on the Google Play Store website, which references “Google Play News.” The code suggests users will be able to subscribe to newspapers, and purchase and download individual issues. Google Play, which celebrates its one-year anniversary this month, already has sections for Magazines, as well as for Music, Books, Movies and TV, and Apps. Newspapers are a logical — and frankly belated — addition. At publishers’ behest, Apple launched a subscription-capable Newsstand section, which includes both newspapers and magazines, in October 2011. The code indicates that the News section will function just like the Magazine section, which allows users to subscribe to an array of titles and purchase single-copy issues.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing. Named LinkedIn’s “Top Voice in Technology,” he covers tech and business for Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN and writes a popular daily business blog. He's a bestselling author, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.