Google has launched a new tablet application that lets users browse through catalogs from big brands. The catalogs include rich media items and the ability to buy any item directly from the app.
Google Steps into Catalogs
Google has been busy picking up big-name partners for the launch of their Google Catalogs project.
“We’ve partnered with a variety of top brands including Anthropologie, Bare Escentuals, Bergdorf Goodman,Bloomingdale’s, Crate and Barrel, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus,Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Sundance Catalog, Tea Collection, Urban Outfitters and Williams-Sonoma, just to name a few,” wrote Kinnari Jhaveri of the Google Commerce team in a blog post.
How Does the Google Catalog App Work?
It’s about what you’d expect from a catalog browser: You browse through visuals and information on products, search through and across catalogs, share your favorite information via email, and can get notifications of new catalogs when they come out. However, Google has also added some unique extras.
Users can create collages of their favorite catalog products, find products that are in nearby stores, view high-resolution images and videos, and – most importantly – buy products from the catalog directly from their tablet.
“At this time, Google Catalogs is a free product for both merchants and users. We currently don’t have plans to monetize the app, but this may change in the future,” a Google spokesperson told Search Engine Watch. “When users click on an item to purchase, they are taken to the merchant’s website (within the Catalogs app) to complete the purchase. Therefore, Google does not process the transactions, and does not take a cut of the transactions.”
Interested merchants can fill out this form to apply.
One fun item of note: Google has released this app for iPad, with the Android version slated for future release. It seems even Google is betting on Apple in the tablet arena.