Everyone is trying to get in on the media streaming boom right now, and it's a good time to be a consumer. Amazon is launching its own device soon which offers another media library through Amazon Prime, Netflix is creating its own TV programming, and Google is pushing its Chromecast USB streaming device around the world.
Chromecast launched in the US about 8 months ago, selling for at a pretty inexpensive $35 price tag, and as of today is available in 11 other nations around the world. The device is now for sale in Canada, the UK, and much of Europe, and Google added localized video apps for some regions, such as a BBC iPlayer app.
In what I doubt is coincidence, Google is releasing Chromecast in these additional countries just before Amazon is expected to put its device on sale in April. If reports about Amazon's product are true, both will be USB sticks that plug into your TV to stream videos for a relatively cheap price, and as such will be competitors in the space. They take advantage of Netflix and Hulu, and Amazon will leverage its own Prime media library as well, in addition to reported gaming functionality.
The full list of nations that can now purchase Chromecast locally includes Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and the UK. It can be purchased on Amazon and through Google Play, as well as local retailers. It will cost $39 Canadian, £30 and €35 respectively depending on the region.
Source: The Verge
