Following many of our non-US readers complaining about the restricted use of the Sony Dash outside the USA, the company today announced that all geographic restriction on the product have been lifted. Previously, attempting to download widgets outside the USA resulted in a number of errors, which could only be worked around using a US VPN service.
Some applications (such as Pandora and Netflix) will continue to automatically geo-filter their content, but the device itself will work aside from these limitations. Geographic restrictions now work at the applicaion level, rather than the device level.
Here’s what Sony had to say:
You’ve been asking for Dash in countries around the globe and we heard you loud and clear. We’ve removed the restrictions that prevented Dash from initializing and working outside of the USA. While this is great news… hold applause… please remember Dash is still primarily intended for use in the United States. The availability of apps and services will vary by region, for instance many providers automatically geo-filter their content. Your experience with your Dash may vary depending on your location, but we hope you enjoy this new step! Let us know where you are and how it’s working for you!
Over the past two weeks, I’ve swapped emails and tweets with Sony regarding the issue, and I know that some of the guys right at the top of the tree at Sony America read your comments in full. I’ve no doubt that your feedback helped convince the to make the change! Good work, guys – enjoy your Dash!
