Google gets into Facebook territory

Google is stepping into social networking giant Facebook’s territory with a new app called Neighbourly. The app allows users to ask questions and get these answered by others in their vicinity.

The internet giant launched the beta version of the hyperlocal app on Thursday for users in this city. It would, it said, decide on offering it in other cities after observing the response. Available on Google Play Store, the app supports smartphones with Android Jellybean and higher version operating systems.

While Google has existing platforms Search, Assist and Local Guides for catering to various queries from users, the new app will be a standalone platform. It will not be integrating any of these services, for the time being, said Josh Woodward, group product manager at Google’s Next Billion Users team.

“Google Search got started by connecting people to information on the web. We found that most of life happens within a one km radius of where you live. So, we created an experience from the collective knowledge within the range,” said Woodward.

Neighbourly lets people share their expertise and keep up on neighbourhood safely through multiple queries they can post and view on the app.

Users in other cities may join a waitlist for the service. Google will decide on extensions to other places on the response here, as well as feedback from users in Mumbai, says their Neighbourly team. It is currently available in eight Indian languages, beside English.

Implications

The interesting point is that Google has now waded into territory so far occupied by Facebook and WhatsApp. In the sense of helping users create hyperlocal interest groups to discover local services. Hyperlocal service delivery/ discovery systems consist of the likes of OLX, HouseJoy, UrbanClap, MilkBasket and Magicpin, among many others providing different forms of hyperlocal engagement.

“Discovery is emerging as a way to find products, especially on platforms like Facebook. Instagram started a personalised discovery in the feed and it is getting more datadriven and personalised feeds, and is a lot more competitive,” noted Mary Meeker from Keiner Perkins at the recent Code 2018 conference.