Google will soon allow its users to share apps, books, games, movies and TV shows with their family members, thanks to the new Google Play Family Library.
A family-oriented feature for Google Play has been rumored for several months, and it looks like it's finally launching as Family Library.
Gizmodo reports that with Family Library, up to six family members can share purchased content and apps. Those in a family group can gain access to shared content through the web, Android and iOS.
This concept of sharing content across devices is similar to iCloud's own Family Sharing plan.
One Payment Service
Since family members will share content and apps, Google designed this new plan to allow a single payment method, enabling the family "manager" to control the downloading and purchasing of content. It is interesting to note that the family manager needs to approve downloads before a family member can get the content. The manager can also choose who can access content.
Restrictions
What users have to remember is that even when the purchased videos can be shared across multiple devices through the service, the titles can only be streamed using one device at a time, as earlier reported by Android Police.
Aside from accessing one media at a time, users must also know that sharing is not available for music. Google already has an exclusive service for music streaming, which is Google Play Music All Access. Through this service, users can share music with others, but it comes with a price. This service costs $14.99 every month.
Setting Up
In setting up Family Library, make sure that you are allowed to set up a family group.
The group should have a family manager, who must meet certain eligibility requirements. The manager should be 18 years old and older, has a credit card, has a personal Google Account and not a member of another family group.
Family members should be 13 years old and above, have personal Google Accounts, be living with the family manager in the same country and not be part of another family group.
As for countries, the Google Family Plan is presently available to those living in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Japan and France.
The complete guide in setting up and managing a family on Google Play is available via a Google Play Help page meant for this particular service.
"Regardless of exactly when it launches, this will put the Google Play Store more on par with Apple's App Store, which introduced family sharing a few years ago," reads a report from Engadget.
Gizmodo adds that "the service hasn't quite launched yet but should be rolling out soon."
Are you excited for Google's Family Library to launch? Let us know what you think.
