Google Catalog Joins Crowded iPad App Field
And the number of vendors offering digital catalog apps has grown by one, albeit a huge one. Google has repurposed its catalog search tool as a catalog browsing app for the iPad, the search engine giant announced on its blog.
Google’s app joins a crowded catalog app field alongside vendors such as iTouch Catalog, Coffee Table and Catalog Spree, to name a few. And don’t forget, TheFind.com has its own iPad app as well. And if I was one of those vendors, I’d get ready to cash in and retire on the millions Google will throw at me to buy your product. And if surfing digital versions of print catalogs on tablet computers takes off, your Google payday will definitely come in.
How will Google differentiate itself with its catalog app? Good question, especially when there are catalogers that are using multiple platforms. For example, Coffee Table has Crate & Barrel as a client, and so does Google.
According to Google, its catalog app will:
- Interact: Zoom in to see products up close, tap on tags to learn more about an item or, in some catalogs, view inspiring photo albums and videos.
- Find products in nearby stores: When an item catches your eye, instantly find it in a store near you or tap
