Ever wondered when Google TV was going to expand its market outside the United States? Wait no longer, as Google has teamed up with Sony to bring the service to several European countries, Canada, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.

Photo: Sony

The service will be available to customers in the UK that purchase the Sony NSZ-GS7, an Internet Player specialized to work with Google TV, starting of July 2012. The device will then be distributed in France, Germany and Netherlands, as well as in the above mentioned countries outside Europe. In October 2012, the Blu-ray version of the device (NSZ-GP9) will hit the American market first, followed by the rest of the world.

Photos: Sony

Gildas Pelliet, Head of Marketing, Sony Europe, expressed great optimism about continuing cooperation with Google:

“Expanding the reach and interoperability of the powerful Android platform with Sony’s smartphones, tablets and renowned audio and video products, we are proud to continue our relationship with Google through the introduction of the new Google TV Internet Player… Entertainment content is available through so many channels and sites, and Google TV helps consumers easily find what they want to watch, listen or play with the freedom of the internet and using the familiar Chrome browser”.

Both devices will come with a double sided remote that has a touch screen for cursor control on one side, while the other side features a QWERTY keyboard for easy Internet surfing. The remote will also have integrated motion sensors for playing games, while the Blu-ray version of the devices will feature a voice recognition system, which will allow users to navigate through the interface with unprecedented ease. In case the remote gets lost, users’ smart phones or tablet devices can be used to serve the same function, though the Media Remote app. Remember the great Google Play service? Well, the devices’ interfaces will come with it, allowing users access to a vast number of TV optimized apps.

Photos: Sony

I think it’s great that Google is thinking of finally breaking out the boundaries of the US market. European (and other) markets are no less deserving of many services, not just Google’s, which are currently being denied to them. And as far as the Sony/Google TV collaboration is concerned, I can only say – who in the world wouldn’t like a seamless all-Google experience from the comfort of their sofas, on a big plasma screen?