Google has managed to convince one of the largest electronics retailers in the USA to promote their mobile search application. Best Buy Mobile representatives will now offer their customers the option to get the Google Mobile App installed for free on smartphones that are bought in their retail outlets.
Best Buy Mobile will install these apps on all compatible smartphones including BlackBerry, Windows Phones and S60 (Symbian OS) phones for free in their stores at the time of purchase. This program has been branded ‘Walk Out Working’.
Google has even created a new micro-site to provide details of this new method by which users can get the Google Mobile App installed on their phones. The site includes a Google Maps application that allows visitors to find the nearest Best Buy stores.
While it is already possible for users to download the Google Mobile search application from the Google Mobile site, m.google.com, directly, it is expected that this new alliance will drive adoption of the application to more regular (non-technical) consumers.
The main features available on the mobile search app are:
- One-click access to Google search
- Voice querying – users can just speak their query into the phone
- ‘My Location’ – allows users to search for local businesses, without having to type in their location
- Google Suggest – provides suggestions for queries and local businesses even as the user types his query
- Links to other Google apps such as Gmail and Google Maps.
Users will also be shown a demo of these apps in action by a Best Buy Mobile representative.
Scott Moore, the Vice President of Best Buy Mobile says, “We know that consumers want smartphones and increasingly, they want to use applications. The challenge is that people still need help understanding what is available to them and how they can bring it to life on their device.”
The partnership between Google and Best Buy Mobile is obviously a step in that direction.
