Cuba USA
A Google delegation, led by Scott Carpenter, Deputy Director of Google Ideas, and Brett Perlmutter, who had accompanied Eric Schmidt on his Cuban visit earlier this year, is in Cuba. They have visited two important technical universities and some of the Cuban Youth Computer Clubs.
At the University of Information Science, the Google representatives were asked about access to their developer's Web site. Evidently Google is required to block access to that site because the State Department lists Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism and the site contains encryption software. Hopefully Google will be able to open that site to Cuban programmers when the terrorist designation is reversed.
Students also asked whether games they had developed could be marketed through the Google Play store, and were told that was not possible at this time.
I find that a bit confusing, because it is my understanding that the US will now allow software imports from Cuba as long as the programs are produced by independent entrepreneurs and computer programmer is one of the jobs the Cuban government authorizes for self-employment.
There may be some problem with allowing Cubans to sell software through Google Play that I am not aware of, but, if that is not the case, this would seem like a quick, simple thing for Google to do. (I'll add it to my earlier posts on things Google might do in Cuba and things the Cuban government might do).
Netflix moved quickly to offer their service for sale in Cuba, and it seems that Google has an opportunity to kick off commerce in the other direction. While there is little chance of Netflix doing much business in Cuba at this time, Cuban Spanish language apps -- games or more serious things like medical or educational applications -- might sell well in the Play store.
Of course, the same applies to Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and any other company selling apps online.
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Update 4/14/2015
Secretary of State Kerry has formally recommended rescinding Cuba's status as a state sponsore of terrorism. The president says he will act soon.
Assuming he follows the State Department recommendation, will that allow Google and others to list Cuban software and other content in online stores?
Will Google be able to provide Cuban programmers access to their development tools?
- Trying To Clarify The Latest U. S. Opening To Cuba -- And Failing
One way to get clarification is to offer some Cuban software for sale and see what happens -- in the U. S. and in Cuba. Last September, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) eased restrictions on trade with Cuba. Restrictions were reduced in many...
- What Might Google Do In Cuba? Content? Infrastructure?
Commercially, Cuba is small potatoes to Google -- a mere 11 million potential users. But what of potential creators? Google is recruiting in another small nation, Israel -- will they be recruiting in Cuba some day? The other day, a journalist who was...
- Netflix Comes To Cuba -- Only Fidel And Raúl Can Afford It For Now *
What about YouTube? Netflix has joined Google as one of the first US companies to offer an Internet service in Cuba, but few Cubans can afford the $7.99 monthly Netflix subscription and home access is nearly all over dial up connections. DSL bandwidth...
- Google Has Made Chrome Available For Download In Cuba – What Has Changed?
Google announced yesterday that folks with Cuban IP addresses can now surf to www.google.com.cu and download a copy of the Chrome browser. That is a small bit of good news, but, what has changed? While Google could not legally "export" Chrome to Cuba...
- Is The U. S. Blocking Cuban Internet Access?
In a recent post, I looked into the charge that Coursera had blocked access to their educational material at the request of the U. S. Government. Subsequently, Cartas Desde Cuba charged that the US Government had ordered satellite ISPs to block access...
Cuba USA
Cuban apps in Google's (or anyone else's) online store?
At the University of Information Science, the Google representatives were asked about access to their developer's Web site. Evidently Google is required to block access to that site because the State Department lists Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism and the site contains encryption software. Hopefully Google will be able to open that site to Cuban programmers when the terrorist designation is reversed.
Students also asked whether games they had developed could be marketed through the Google Play store, and were told that was not possible at this time.
I find that a bit confusing, because it is my understanding that the US will now allow software imports from Cuba as long as the programs are produced by independent entrepreneurs and computer programmer is one of the jobs the Cuban government authorizes for self-employment.
There may be some problem with allowing Cubans to sell software through Google Play that I am not aware of, but, if that is not the case, this would seem like a quick, simple thing for Google to do. (I'll add it to my earlier posts on things Google might do in Cuba and things the Cuban government might do).
Netflix moved quickly to offer their service for sale in Cuba, and it seems that Google has an opportunity to kick off commerce in the other direction. While there is little chance of Netflix doing much business in Cuba at this time, Cuban Spanish language apps -- games or more serious things like medical or educational applications -- might sell well in the Play store.
Of course, the same applies to Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and any other company selling apps online.
-----
Update 4/14/2015
Secretary of State Kerry has formally recommended rescinding Cuba's status as a state sponsore of terrorism. The president says he will act soon.
Assuming he follows the State Department recommendation, will that allow Google and others to list Cuban software and other content in online stores?
Will Google be able to provide Cuban programmers access to their development tools?
- Trying To Clarify The Latest U. S. Opening To Cuba -- And Failing
One way to get clarification is to offer some Cuban software for sale and see what happens -- in the U. S. and in Cuba. Last September, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) eased restrictions on trade with Cuba. Restrictions were reduced in many...
- What Might Google Do In Cuba? Content? Infrastructure?
Commercially, Cuba is small potatoes to Google -- a mere 11 million potential users. But what of potential creators? Google is recruiting in another small nation, Israel -- will they be recruiting in Cuba some day? The other day, a journalist who was...
- Netflix Comes To Cuba -- Only Fidel And Raúl Can Afford It For Now *
What about YouTube? Netflix has joined Google as one of the first US companies to offer an Internet service in Cuba, but few Cubans can afford the $7.99 monthly Netflix subscription and home access is nearly all over dial up connections. DSL bandwidth...
- Google Has Made Chrome Available For Download In Cuba – What Has Changed?
Google announced yesterday that folks with Cuban IP addresses can now surf to www.google.com.cu and download a copy of the Chrome browser. That is a small bit of good news, but, what has changed? While Google could not legally "export" Chrome to Cuba...
- Is The U. S. Blocking Cuban Internet Access?
In a recent post, I looked into the charge that Coursera had blocked access to their educational material at the request of the U. S. Government. Subsequently, Cartas Desde Cuba charged that the US Government had ordered satellite ISPs to block access...