Google adds player matching to Android

Google is adding leaderboards and the ability to match players in online games to its Android operating system for smartphones and tablet computers.

The new features match those available in Apple's Game Center for the iPhone and iPad. Google is also making it possible to save game progress online, so players can pick up games where they left off, even on other devices.

Google announced the new game services at its annual software developers' conference in San Francisco. Three employees tried to demonstrate on stage how they could all join a racing game, but failed to pull off the demo due to wireless connectivity issues in the conference center.

The Google Play leaderboards will also be available through a browser, said Hugo Barra, vice president of product management of Android.