View source for Androidland

{{Short description|Android retail store}}
{{Notability|date=August 2022}}
[[File:Android robot.svg|thumb|150px|Android's "green robot"]]
'''Androidland''' was an [[Android (operating system)|Android]]-themed [[pop-up retail|pop-up store]], created by the carrier [[Telstra]] in collaboration with Google, on [[Bourke Street]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]], in December 2011.<ref name="Google AUS">{{cite web |url=http://apcmag.com/meet-androidland-australia-opens-world-first-android-store-in-melbourne.htm |title=Meet Androidland: Australia opens "world-first" Android store in Melbourne |publisher=Apcmag.com |access-date=2011-12-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2021-12-06 |title=Androidland opens in Melbourne |url=https://australia.googleblog.com/2011/12/androidland-opens-in-melbourne.html |first1=Lachlan |last1=McGrath |website=Google Australia Blog |date=2011-12-02}}</ref>
The store was themed heavily in green, featuring several Android "green robot" sculptures. In the store, Telstra provided visitors with an interactive spaceship zone that featured a flight simulator (via the [[Google Earth]] software, a [[Liquid Galaxy]] set-up<ref name="Gizmodo">{{cite web|access-date=2021-12-06 |title=A Walk Through Telstra's Android Wonderland |url=https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2011/12/a-walk-through-telstras-android-wonderland/ |date=2011-12-05 |website=Gizmodo Australia |first1=Logan |last1=Booker}}</ref>), and also included a massive screen on which visitors could play [[Angry Birds]]. It further featured scented areas with gingerbread and grass aromas, called "Android grass",<ref name="Gizmodo"/> to further immerse visitors.
==History==
Androidland had been in development since July 2011.<ref name="Verge">{{cite web |first1=Chris |last1=Welch |access-date=2021-12-06 |title=Androidland: Telstra and Google open dedicated store in Melbourne |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/4/2610372/androidland-telstra-google-open-store-melbourne |date=2011-12-04 |website=The Verge}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=2021-12-06 |title=Telstra Tests "Androidland" – The First Ever Android Store [Video] |url=https://phandroid.com/2011/12/02/telstra-tests-androidland-the-first-ever-android-store-video/ |date=2011-12-02 |website=Phandroid |first1=Quentyn |last1=Kennemer}}</ref> [[Google|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.<ref name="TNW">{{cite web |first1=Matt |last1=Brian |access-date=2021-12-06 |title=Telstra Opens Androidland, The World's First Android Store |url=https://thenextweb.com/news/welcome-to-androidland-australias-and-the-worlds-first-android-store |date=2011-12-02 |website=TheNextWeb}}</ref>
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."<ref name="PR">{{Cite press release |url=http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/telstra-launches-world-first-android-store-in-melbourne.xml |title=Telstra launches world-first Android store in Melbourne - Media Announcement – About Telstra |access-date=2012-01-01 |archive-date=2011-12-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205013607/http://www.telstra.com.au/abouttelstra/media-centre/announcements/telstra-launches-world-first-android-store-in-melbourne.xml |url-status=dead |website=Telstra |date=2011-12-02}}</ref>
In October 2013, [[Spice Group]] announced a partnership with Google to set up 50 AndroidLand stores in India along with 100 smaller versions of the stores as AndroidLand mini stores.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Gulveen |last1=Aulakh |access-date=2023-06-16 |title=Spice Group plans to roll out 100 AndroidLand Mini stores in 18 months |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/hardware/spice-group-plans-to-roll-out-100-androidland-mini-stores-in-18-months/articleshow/23827129.cms |newspaper=The Economic Times |date=9 October 2013 |issn=0013-0389 |via=The Economic Times - The Times of India}}</ref>
==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 demonstration]]s gives the shop-within-a-shop a corporate [[Powerhouse Museum]] feel."<ref name="Gizmodo"/>
The Telstra press release stated Androidland was a temporary installation but also noted the possibility of the installation expanding through other Telstra stores in Australia based on customer feedback.<ref name="PR"/>
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Android|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Android (operating system)]]
[[Category:Google buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Telstra]]