Sony France have announced plans to launch their Google TV boxes in France later on this year, according to a report by French site Les Echos.
According to the article Sony France marketing director Stephane Labrousse said that Sony will sell two devices. One for €200 and another for €300 that will include Blu-Ray. Also Stephane mentioned that although the launch will be in France it could launch in other parts of Europe at the same time.
It is not yet clear quite how integrated into these new boxes Android will be. The remote is said to have a Google Play button on it to launch the Play Store/Shop. The original Google TV sort of failed in the US, mainly due to high prices. So it will be interesting to see how Sony will approach it. Again it has been mentioned that Sony will include their own content offerings, including Music Unlimited.
Also worth noting is that the new Sony boxes will apparently have a Google Play button on their remote controls, giving direct access to Google’s app and content store. The box will also come with Sony’s own content offerings, including Music Unlimited.
I am not sure I would pay that much for a set top box. At the moment companies like Sky and Virgin are slowly adding features to their HD boxes which more often than not you get for free with a monthly contract. So whether or not a €300 box will ever appear in my house I don’t know. Guess we’ll see in September. How about you? You fancy a Sony Google TV box?