Attention audiobook fans! Audible (An Amazon company) is conducting an open beta of their Android application which effectively closes the audiobook gap on the Google platform. If you would like to try the beta you have to join the Audible Beta Google Group.

Once you subscribe to the group you will be provided a link to download the beta software.

I downloaded and installed the app on my Android Nexus one running Froyo 2.2. After the install was complete I put in my Audible account information and had my library available for download from within the application in short order. My Audible subscription had lapsed back in 2002 and I’m guessing I hadn’t listened to anything from my audible account since at least 2005, so I was very pleased to see my list of previously purchased titles still there waiting for me.

So far in very light use the application has worked well and looks great. I’ve been able to load and listen to books while multi-tasking without any issues. The books format used is Audible’s enhanced audio format which is very high quality. This means the downloads are quite large and takes some time to download over 3G. There doesn’t seem to be a way to choose what audiobook format to download your books in.

Also as of version .136b you can’t browse/ purchase new content from within the app. Hopefully this is a feature that will be added before the official version is released.

If you are new to Audible, it’s a discount subscription based audiobook service that offers a Gold & Platinum listener audiobook plan with monthly or annual subscriptions available for each plan. The Gold plan is 1 credit a month plan and cost $7.49/month for the first 3 months and $14.95/month thereafter or $149.50 year for 12 credits The Platinum plan is $22.95 for 2 credits per month or $229.50 per year for 24 credits. Most books are 1 credit each while a very small number of titles are more than one credit.

Besides Android, Audible is compatible with Windows and Mac as well as a host of MP3 players, PDA’s, Mobile Phones and GPS’s. Check with Audible to see a complete list of compatible devices.