Play Store country restrictions - Workaround ?

[holycrail]

Hi,

First time poster here!

I'd like to know the best way to avoid the geographic restrictions in place when using the play store.

I live in Sweden, but have been trying to download a few UK only banking applications and have been unable to side load any APK's. I'm using an HTC One X that is unrooted and I have tried using Tunnelbear VPN for a connection to a UK server, forced stop and cleared data/cache from the play store and re-launched but still this will not work. I have even recently been in the UK and tried downloading the apps on a wireless connection there but I am still told that the apps are "not available in your country". I have even removed my SIM card whilst doing so but still nothing.

I've done everything I can possibly think of without rooting my device and using MarketEnabler, but my understanding is that is only for US carriers anyway?

Is there any way to solve this issue, am I doing something wrong ?

 

[holycrail]

Nobody ?

 

[Slug]

Did you try contacting the banks and explaining the situation? Presumably you have accounts with them so they may be sympathetic to your position.

 

[TeflonDog]

MarketEnabler does not work (at least not in Japan). I've rooted my phone and looking for my bank's app which is only in the Canadian store. can't find the apk for it anywhere either.

 

[TeflonDog]

I asked friends in Canada and posted on these forums asking for specific Canadian app APKs. Got everything I needed super quick.

 

[funkylogik]

So how does Play Store "know" where the phone is it from? Is it down to the CSC?
Hideninja VPN doesnt fool play store either so it must be something to do with the firmware on the handset?

 

[TeflonDog]

It doesn't matter what phone you have. It's all about the "location" of your IP when you connect too the store.