The new markets are Australia, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam, with the rollout covering desktop and iOS in all listed countries except Japan, where it is currently limited to desktop users.

Gemini in Chrome first launched in the United States in January, after which Google extended access to India, Canada and New Zealand in March. With this latest expansion, more users can now use the feature directly inside the Chrome browser.

Google has been adding more Gemini tools to Chrome since last year. The assistant appears in a floating window and can help users with tasks while they browse.

Earlier this year, Google also introduced a sidebar version that can answer questions across multiple tabs. It can summarise long pages, compare information from open tabs and respond without users leaving the browser.

The feature also works with several Google services. Users can schedule meetings through Calendar, check places with Maps, and draft or send emails through Gmail.

Google’s Personal Intelligence feature is also available through Gemini in Chrome. It allows users to connect services such as Gmail and Google Photos to receive more personalised responses.

Users can also ask questions about YouTube videos while staying on the same page.

Another tool, Nano Banana 2, lets users edit or transform images on the web using text prompts in the Chrome sidebar.

Some advanced functions are still limited to the United States. Google said its agentic feature, which can control a browser window and complete tasks for users, is still being tested.

That feature is only available to subscribers on the AI Pro and AI Ultra paid plans in the U.S. for now.

However, the American tech giant still requires an import permit from the trade ministry before it can officially launch the smartphones in the country.

The approval, announced by Indonesia’s communications ministry on Friday, follows the issuance of local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, last week. 

The five certified models include the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Indonesia, a nation of approximately 280 million people, had previously blocked the sale of iPhone 16 models over Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements. 

Under current regulations, 40% of smartphone components must be locally sourced, a policy designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing. While this rule supports local industries, analysts warn it could deter foreign investment and lead to protectionist tendencies.

Apple has responded by pledging over $300 million in investments in Indonesia, focusing on component manufacturing plants and a research and development centre. 

This aligns with its initiative to meet the local content requirements and secure long-term access to the Indonesian market. In contrast, Apple’s investments in Indonesia are still relatively small compared to its commitments in Vietnam and Thailand, where it has poured in $15.4 billion and $24 billion, respectively.

Indonesia’s mobile market is one of the largest in the world, with over 354 million active mobile phone connections—more than its population. 

Given this scale, it is an important market for Apple, which faces competition from brands like Samsung and Xiaomi that have already made huge local investments.

Indonesia’s protectionist policies have also impacted other tech companies, with Google Pixel devices similarly restricted due to local sourcing requirements.

Even with the approval of telecommunications permits, Apple’s final issue is obtaining an import licence. This step makes it difficult to tell when the iPhone 16 series will officially hit Indonesian shelves.

Apple has yet to issue a statement on the development. However, confirming the permit issuance, Dwi Handoko, a senior communications ministry official, stated, “Five permits were issued as requested by Apple.”

The ban, which was imposed in October 2024, came after Apple failed to comply with a regulation requiring at least 35% of locally sourced components in smartphones sold within the country. 

In response, Apple has outlined a $1 billion investment plan for a manufacturing facility that will produce components for smartphones and other devices.

This move follows Indonesia’s earlier rejection of a $100 million investment proposal from Apple, which officials deemed insufficient. The country’s Industry Minister, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, noted that Apple’s offer fell short when compared to the company’s larger investments in neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand.

He emphasised that Indonesia expects fair treatment in negotiations and is pushing for greater commitments to local manufacturing.

Jakarta has been strict about enforcing its localisation policies, which apply not only to Apple but also to Alphabet’s Google Pixel phones, which remain banned under similar regulations.

Other smartphone brands, including Samsung and Xiaomi, have met the requirements by setting up manufacturing operations within Indonesia.

In addition to this investment, Apple will also introduce training programmes to develop local talent in research and development.

These initiatives will be separate from the existing Apple Developer Academies, which already operate in cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Batam, and the newly announced Bali location.

Even with Apple’s lack of a manufacturing presence, Indonesia is still a key market with a population of over 270 million and growing smartphone demand.

Kartasasmita stressed that while the government is keen on Apple’s continued business in the country, the terms must align with Indonesia’s industrial growth ambitions.

For now, Apple has no immediate plans to manufacture iPhones in Indonesia. Per Reuters, neither the tech giant nor the Indonesian Ministry for Industry, responsible for enforcing the ban, have responded to requests for comment.

The decision, delivered on 21 January 2025, also mandates changes to Google’s operations within the country.

The KPPU concluded that Google’s policies unfairly restricted competition by requiring application developers to use the GPB System exclusively for digital product transactions in the Google Play Store. 

Developers who failed to comply faced penalties, including the removal of their apps from the store. Google also charged developers service fees ranging from 15% to 30%, which the KPPU found to be excessive compared to other payment platforms.

The regulator’s investigation revealed that the mandatory use of GPB didn’t stop at restricting alternative payment methods, it also led to increased costs for developers and app users. These costs, in turn, caused a decline in app usage, reduced transactions, and limited revenue generation.

The KPPU further disclosed that the Google Play Store, pre-installed on all Android devices in Indonesia, dominates the market, holding more than 50% of the app distribution share. The regulator determined that this allowed Google to enforce restrictive policies that hindered competition and repressed technological development.

In addition to the fine, Google has been ordered to discontinue the mandatory use of the GPB System and to introduce the User Choice Billing (UCB) programme. Under this initiative, developers must be offered a service fee reduction of at least 5% for a year after the decision is legally binding.

Google has 30 days to pay the fine or face additional penalties, including a 2% monthly interest for late payment. If the company chooses to appeal, it must provide a bank guarantee for 20% of the fine’s value, as stipulated by Indonesian regulations.

Reacting to the ruling, a Google spokesperson, Danielle Cohen, stated: “We strongly disagree with the KPPU’s decision and will appeal. Our current practices foster a healthy, competitive Indonesian app ecosystem, offering a secure platform, global reach, and choice, including user choice billing — which enables alternatives to Google Play’s billing system.”

Cohen further noted Google’s contributions to Indonesia’s tech sector through programmes like the Indie Games Accelerator and Play Academy, adding, “We remain committed to complying with Indonesian law and will continue collaborating with the KPPU and stakeholders throughout the appeals process.”

This decision adds to several global regulatory challenges Google faces over its alleged anti-competitive behaviour.

Similar investigations are ongoing in Japan, with its regulator expected to issue a ruling soon, while past fines have been imposed in countries including India, South Korea, and France.

The Southeast Asian nation aims to boost domestic manufacturing by requiring smartphones sold within its borders to consist of at least 40% locally produced components.

The ban, enforced since November 2023, has halted sales of Apple’s latest iPhone 16 model, along with Alphabet’s Google Pixel phones, for failing to comply with these rules. 

The country’s Industry Minister, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, confirmed the rejection of Apple’s proposal, noting its inadequacy when compared to investments the tech giant has made in neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Thailand.

Kartasasmita noted that Apple’s $100 million offer to establish a plant for accessories and components in Indonesia pales in comparison to its significant investments elsewhere. 

For instance, Apple has funnelled billions into Vietnam, which has become an important manufacturing hub for the company. The minister also pointed out that Apple still has an outstanding $10 million investment commitment from 2023 that remains unfulfilled.

He pointed to the need for “fairness” in negotiations, stating, “We want Apple to continue doing business in Indonesia, but the terms must be equitable and aligned with our goals of local industrial growth.” 

Jakarta expects Apple to clear its previous commitments and also make new investments stretching into 2026.

While Apple has no manufacturing facilities in Indonesia, the company has operated application developer academies in the country since 2018. 

These initiatives were previously accepted as a partial fulfilment of local content requirements for older iPhone models. However, authorities are now demanding more concrete contributions, particularly in hardware production and local sourcing.

Indonesia’s approach to enforcing localisation requirements is in line with Countries like Vietnam that have successfully attracted industry giants through generous investment incentives and solid supply chain networks.

Other smartphone brands, including Samsung and Xiaomi, have complied with Indonesia’s rules by establishing important manufacturing operations within the country. 

Meanwhile, Google Pixel phones remain banned under similar regulations, as the government continues its relentless focus on its localisation policies.

Kartasasmita disclosed that the government plans to invite Apple for further discussions. He stressed that Indonesia remains a lucrative market for the tech giant, with a population of over 270 million and a growing demand for smartphones. 

Despite Apple’s lower market share in the country, the potential for expansion is considerable, making the resolution of this standoff necessary for the company.

The minister said the government is ensuring fair investment terms while facilitating local industrial development. 

This ban follows closely on the heels of a similar ban on Apple’s iPhone 16, which was also blocked from sale for not fulfilling the local content requirement.

According to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Industry, Indonesia enforces these rules to encourage a level playing field and enhance local industrial growth by mandating that global tech companies contribute to the nation’s economic sector. 

This directive requires manufacturers to either assemble devices locally, establish partnerships with domestic suppliers, or invest in local software development. 

Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, has not distributed its Pixel phones officially in Indonesia, though these devices can still be obtained overseas, provided the necessary import taxes are paid.

Despite Apple and Google’s position worldwide, neither ranks among the top smartphone brands in Indonesia, a market led by OPPO and Samsung, according to recent industry data. 

Nevertheless, Indonesia remains a key growth market for tech companies due to its large, tech-oriented population and its goal of ensuring domestic economic development through foreign investment.

The local content rule is part of Indonesia’s capitalisation of its sizeable consumer market to attract investment and facilitate technological development domestically. 

Companies failing to meet these standards face strict limitations on device sales. This regulatory environment, while aimed at strengthening local industry, has drawn criticism from some economic analysts who argue that such requirements may deter foreign investment and limit consumer choice.

Bhima Yudhistira, director of the Center of Economic and Law Studies, noted the possible negative impacts of this policy, labelling it as a form of “pseudo-protectionism” that could create unfavourable sentiment among international investors.

Indonesia’s enforcement of local content requirements is seen as an attempt to secure greater involvement from tech giants in its economy, leveraging its vast consumer base to attract commitments from foreign manufacturers. 

While some companies, like Samsung and Xiaomi, have established local production facilities, others, such as Apple, have explored alternative routes by creating developer academies to satisfy regulatory standards. 

This approach aligns with Indonesia’s push to use its growing tech market as a tool to bolster domestic economic growth.