If you’re outside of the U.S. and you happen to own a Chromecast dongle, we’ve got some good news for you today. It appears that Google has lifted the region restrictions on the Chromecast app that is in the Google Play Store. You can head on over and download it right now. It’s been confirmed that users in the UK can download it, so now our own Tom Dawson can finally get in the on Chromecast action. It’s being reported that the app is available for users in other countries too. The Chromecast app is pointless without a Chromecast dongle, however.
The app had been unavailable outside of the U.S. until today. The Chromecast device is still not available in the UK Play Store or anywhere else, but hopefully that will be changing soon. If Google is making the app available to international users, the Chromecast unit should be available soon as well.
Amazon recently slipped up and made Chromecast available to users in the UK by mistake. The unit was priced at the same $35 that it sells for here in the U.S., and shipping was only $10 USD. Amazon closed the loophole pretty quickly, but if you were able to order one in that time frame they are still shipping them. Amazon made it a point to say that you won’t get the standard warranty that the unit comes with and that it may not work properly because the service is not supposed to be available outside the U.S.
Chromecast is incredibly popular. It recently overtook Amazon’s Kindle tablets as the best selling electronics device on Amazon. The unit has been selling out at all the places that are stocking it. Google Play, Amazon, and Best Buy retail locations are unable to keep it in stock because users want it and are buying it out almost as soon as new stock arrives. Google has not released specific numbers of Chromecast units sold, but we imagine that’s it’s quite a few. The device makes streaming Netflix, Hulu Plus, and YouTube to a television very easy, and at only $35 it’s kind of a no-brainer to purchase one.
If you want the to download the Chromecast app from the Play Store, hit the link below. Hopefully Google will make the dongle available for international users soon too.