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"Google has launched a local search domain in Myanmar and opened partial access to its Google Play store in the country on the eve of Eric Schmidt's visit, the first from a high-profile tech executive.\r\n\r\nSchmidt, who made a much-publicized trip to North Korea in January, was last week confirmed to be visiting Myanmar, a country that was \u2014 until recently \u2014 a similarly isolated state, to encourage wider access to the Internet and the benefits of technology.\r\n\r\nPreparations have already begun as the Internet giant launched a top level domain name -- Google.com.mm -- for local Internet users today. In addition, as noted by Android device owners in the country, it has also opened access to the Google Play app store, although it initially appears that content cannot be downloaded.\r\ncan now access @googleplay but still can't download or update anything. keep getting #403 error. cc: @ericschmidt @android #myanmar\r\n\r\n\u2014 david madden (@davidmadden) March 21, 2013\r\nIt remains to be seen if downloads will be enabled and other services opened in conjunction with Schmidt's arrival. We've reached out to Google for clarification.\r\n\r\nSchmidt -- who spent Wednesday and Thursday in India, where he spoke at the Big Tent event arranged by Google and The Guardian -- is expected to arrive in Myanmar on Friday.\u00A0Secretary general of the Myanmar Computer Society,\u00A0Zaw Min Oo, told Reuters that the Google Executive Chairman will give a speech at the\u00A0Myanmar Information and Communication Technology Park in Yangon.\r\n\r\nHe is also slated to meet top business executives and politicians, including\u00A0Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi.\r\n\r\nGoogle last week confirmed Schmidt's visit will also see him &amp;quot;connect with local partners and Googlers who are working to improve the lives of many millions of people across the [Asian] region&amp;quot;. The company emphasized Schmidt visit was aimed at helping to increase Internet penetration, and bring information on the Web to wider audiences.\r\n\r\nThat mission statement bears similarities to the visit to North Korea. Despite being taken in a person capacity -- and against the advice of the US government -- Schmidt's trip has already impacted the country in some way, after his comments\u00A0led to North Korea\u2019s mobile operator\u00A0opening mobile data services\u00A0for the first time. The wider goal of increased Web access is a more difficult one, however.\r\n\r\nMyanmar recently opened up under the\u00A0quasi-civilian government of President\u00A0Thein Sein, formerly its Prime Minister and\u00A0a military commander. A series of political reforms saw media censorship relaxed, some political prisoners released and freer elections, but concerns still remain and the adoption of technology is far from widespread.\r\n\r\nIn an interview with The Guardian's Alan Rusbridger in India on Thursday, Schmidt explained his determination to help bring the benefits of the Web to untapped countries like North Korea and Myanmar.\r\n\r\n&amp;quot;The Internet was built for everyone, including North Koreans. If there's anyone who needs the Internet, it's people who don't have the ability to develop critical thinking skills...or understand the choice that they, as citizens, face...The quickest way to get economic growth [for these countries] is to open up the Internet,&amp;quot; he said.\r\n\r\nRelated:\u00A0Google\u2019s Eric Schmidt calls on India to stop policing the Web and focus on innovation\r\n\r\nImage via AFP / Getty Images,\u00A0Hat tip\u00A0Global Voices"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://thenextweb.com/asia/2013/03/21/google-opens-local-search-site-partial-access-to-google-play-in-myanmar-ahead-of-eric-schmidt-visit/>