Google’s daily deal service debuts in Portland, New York, Oakland, San Francisco
Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Google has taken aim at Groupon and LivingSocial by launching a test of its own daily deal coupon program, starting in several techtrendy spots in the United States. Nicknamed Google Offers, it takes aim at one of the hottest social trends online; daily deals delivered directly to an eager inbox.
The roll-out was launched in Oakland and San Francisco, California; Downtown, Midtown, and Uptown in New York City; and Portland, Oregon.
“Offers is part of an ongoing effort at Google to make new services that give consumers great deals while helping connect businesses with customers in new ways,” the company said in an e-mail to the technology magazine Wired.
While Google is now putting itself in combat against other deal sites, the search engine giant (which is also becoming a strong web-TV and mobile phone OS player as well) made the move after failing to acquire Groupon, the current industry-leader. Google reportedly offered $6 billion to the Chicago-based Groupon, which turned down the offer citing its quirky and independent corporate culture.
Now, the question is whether or not the market has room for several sites. Chris Crum at WebProNews asks out loud, “Will Google Offers annihilate the competition?” While PCWorld muses; “If You Can’t Buy Groupon, Beat ‘Em.”
Meanwhile, others like network engineer Frank Diaz wondered via Twitter why there aren’t any deals in the Windy City. “Google has a Groupon Clone,” Diaz tweets. “But seriously, there’s no offers for the Chicago area? Really Google?” Diaz signed his tweet with a stinging set of hashtags; #Fail #Google #Offers #Buzz
Only time will tell if Offers will sit among Google’s legendary search, mail and maps, or if it will be tossed asside like Buzz and other “not ready for prime-time” projects.
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