Google adds iPhone App Store links to mobile search results
Google announced the new feature on its official Mobile Blog this week. Software engineers Milena Nikolic and Paul Hadfield said the idea is to help users quickly download an application as they search for mobile app information.
Applications show up at the top of search results on Google's mobile site. Selecting an application launches the App Store and takes users to that software's specific listing. The creator of the software, as well as user reviews, are listed alongside the link.
Users can also select "more results for your iPhone," which automatically conducts a search within the App Store software and displays the results. The same search results do not yet provide App Store links on the iPad, which accesses the desktop version of Google search.
Mobile app search results are currently available for both the iPhone and Android handsets in the U.S. Other devices and new countries are planned for the future, Google said.
Google's new feature could be seen as a mobile counterpart to Apple's own iTunes Preview service, which also provides information about content within the browser. The feature was first introduced last November, and gives customers the opportunity to view iTunes content without launching the desktop application, and even listen to song samples from within the browser.
This year, Apple expanded iTunes Preview, allowing users to view information on App Store software from within the browser. Users can view descriptions, prices and screenshots of applications for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad on the Apple-hosted site.
However, opening an iTunes link on an iPhone currently automatically launches the respective iTunes or App Store mobile application. Apple does not currently send users to a mobile version of the iTunes Preview website.
32 Comments
Google has added App Store results to its mobile search page, allowing users to find and quickly download applications for their iPhone or iPod touch through a simple browser search.
Once again, Google swoops in to the rescue.
Maybe this is Google's way of saying "thanks for helping us purchase AdMob"?
I hope Google doesn't start slanting their results to their advantage...in fairness, in doing this search for the Mint app: http://www.google.com/search?q=mint+...8&oe=utf8&rlz= The iPhone version comes up first. (the reason one would assume is that it has the most entries, is the most popular and is assumed to be the most relevant).
It still is creepy though... There are no real challengers to Google in search... as they expand into more businesses, they constantaly need to be monitored. If they ever do start creating biases in their results, God help us all....
OK, a nice start, but where is the app search from a desktop browser? Putt apps on the main google page next to images videos and maps so I can browse potential purchases from a PC with a better interface than the horrific POS that is iTunes and they will make me very happy.
I for one would like to see an Apple competitor to Google. E.g., AppleSearch
I would use it exclusively and knowing Apple they could figure out how to have great integration with there other software...mail, iCal, pages, etc.
Please Apple hire a 100 smart people give them a $500,000,000 budget and lets do it!
If Google can compete with the Apple iPhone and MS can compete with Apple Retail (with those two MS stores) then Apple can compete with Google in Search!
Best