After a long wait, India today gets the Google Chromecast — though not at the bargain price many had hoped for.
Google launched its cheap HDMI streaming stick in the United States in late 2013 priced at $35 before branching out to the UK in March of this year, Australia in May and a host of additional locales in the ensuing months.
‘Chromecast in India will go on sale this week priced at ₹2,999 (eqiv. £31/$48)’
Better late than never, India today joins the Chromecast party.
Head of Google India, Rajan Anandan, confirmed that the device will go on sale this week priced at ₹2,999 (roughly £31/$48).
The item will launch tomorrow, December 10, as part of the Great Online Shopping Festival 2014, a Google-led initiative akin to Black Friday in the US and UK.
Chromecasts will be sold in India exclusively through the online retailer Snapdeal (online) and will, depending on location, be carried in some bricks and mortar Airtel stores, too.
Apps, Apps, Apps
As with all launches Google has taken time to ensure there are a raft of well-known local content providers and services supporting the Chromecast at launch.
For Indian users this means apps from Eros Now, YuppTV and Spuul join a wealth of existing apps, from YouTube to Netflix, in being Cast Ready.
As a part of the initial roll out — for which stocks, we’re told, may be limited — bundle deals and promotions will help to sweeten the premium Indian users are paying for the device (though the price is bang on the nose of UK pricing, so it’s not a bad deal per se).
- Source: Google India