Google on Wednesday introduced a "Family Library" feature allowing people to share purchases made via Google Play.
With Family Library, up to six users can now share the apps, games, movies, TV shows, and e-books they buy from the Google Play Store, across all compatible devices (including desktop and notebook computers, via Web browsers), at no additional cost.
Users can also share one payment method, and a purchase approval process can be set up to necessitate that parents approve their children's purchases before they can be made.
They can also choose which purchases they would like to keep to themselves, and which they want to share by adding to the Family Library.
While all types of purchases added to the Family Library can be shared across Android devices, only movies, TV shows, and books can be shared across Apple's iOS devices and via Web browsers.
While all types of content can be shared, sharing capability varies between specific items. While all apps and games bought after 7 February are automatically eligible, developers must opt in to allow prior purchases to be shared. E-books are only shareable if the publisher has opted into the feature, while movies and TV shows have to be purchased using the Family Library payment method to be shared, and rentals are not eligible for inclusion in the Family Library at all.
Upon its launch Google announced that Family Library "will be rolling out over the next few days and will be available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States."
Google's music streaming service, Google Play Music, has allowed family sharing since December, when it announced that up to six people could share a streaming subscription for $14.99 per month.
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