Androidland

Androidland is the first Android retail store, opened by the carrier Telstra in collaboration with Google, on Bourke Street, Melbourne, Australia, in December 2011.[1][2]

Android's "green robot"

The store is themed heavily in green, featuring several Android "green robot" sculptures. In the store, Telstra provides visitors with an interactive spaceship zone that features a flight simulator (via the Google Earth software, a Liquid Galaxy set-up[3]), also including a massive screen on which visitors can play Angry Birds. It features scented areas with gingerbread and grass aromas, called "Android grass",[3] to further immerse visitors.

History

Androidland had been in development since July 2011.[4][5] Google Australia helped to train the store's Android experts to be able to assist visitors with their current devices, help them with their new ones and recommend apps to install.[6]

Warwick Bray, the Executive Director of Telstra Mobile, stated, "Over the past 12 months we've seen a huge growth in the number of customers coming in-store and asking us about Android phones and tablets. With Androidland we wanted to create a retail environment like no other that helps us to answer customer questions in a fun, interactive way."[7]

Reception

Logan Booker, writing for Gizmodo Australia wrote "It's a friendly environment, definitely, and if I were to make the switch to Android, I’d be sure to stop by to aid in my decision-making. The interesting fusion of business with an "experience" beyond product demonstrations gives the shop-within-a-shop a corporate Powerhouse Museum feel."[3]

The Telstra press release stated Androidland was a temporary installation but also noted the possibility of the installation to expand through other Telstra stores in Australia based on customer feedback.[7]

References
  1. "Meet Androidland: Australia opens "world-first" Android store in Melbourne". Apcmag.com. Retrieved 2011-12-10.
  2. McGrath, Lachlan (2011-12-02). "Androidland opens in Melbourne". Google Australia Blog. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  3. Booker, Logan (2011-12-05). "A Walk Through Telstra's Android Wonderland". Gizmodo Australia. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  4. Welch, Chris (2011-12-04). "Androidland: Telstra and Google open dedicated store in Melbourne". The Verge. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  5. Kennemer, Quentyn (2011-12-02). "Telstra Tests "Androidland" – The First Ever Android Store [Video]". Phandroid. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  6. Brian, Matt (2011-12-02). "Telstra Opens Androidland, The World's First Android Store". TheNextWeb. Retrieved 2021-12-06.
  7. "Telstra launches world-first Android store in Melbourne - Media Announcement – About Telstra". Telstra (Press release). 2011-12-02. Archived from the original on 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
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