'Google Offers' App Lands on iPhone

[MacRumors]

Google has launched an iPhone app for its deals service Google Offers. The service delivers Groupon-style deals as well as location-based coupon-style savings.

- Instant savings, just around the corner: Quickly discover offers near you in map view or search for deals by category to easily find the right deal for you.

- See & use the deals you want, when you want them: All of your purchased and saved offers are tracked in "My Offers," for easy access from your iPhone or online.

- Savings made simple: Instantly redeem most offers with your iPhone, without having to print vouchers.

- Never miss a great deal: Get notifications when new deals are available or when a deal that you've purchased or saved is about to expire.

A year ago, Google announced a big push into near field communications (NFC) with its Google Wallet initiative. Google Offers doesn't use NFC, but one can see where the two could tie together eventually.

Google Offers is a free download for the iPhone [Direct Link], but is only available in select US cities:

Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Brooklyn, Charlotte, Chicago, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Fort Worth, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, NYC, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Oakland / East Bay, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Orlando, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, St. Paul, St. Louis, Tampa and Washington D.C.

Article Link: 'Google Offers' App Lands on iPhone

 

[pezj]

Can't wait to not download this

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'm in a supported city, and I think I'll pass anyways.

 

[camomac]

What I don't get is why does this only show up on my iPhone browser and not my home computer?
(Never mind. It's there. Ha.)


But whatever. I'll pass too.

 

[dBeats]

Groupon + Spyware! Shut up and take my identity!!

 

[LaWally]

Groupon + Google Offers = 0.

 

[thayeriv]

Logo fail

What's with the weird shadow in the logo? It looks like it's supposed to be behind the blue tag, but it's only showing on the green and yellow, not red. And the red, blue and yellow tags are smaller or something. They hang out oddly. If you were to straighten the pile... It's just weird.

 

[PracticalMac]

I'm giving it a try...

 

[Consultant]

Groupon + Spyware! Shut up and take my identity!!

In addition, Google is getting paid by merchants to list them.

 

[jontech]

They find new ways to advertise thier product...YOU

 

[danwayfilms]

Look at how many people dont care!!!

 

[Flitzy]

A product from Google? Yeah, automatic trash.

Why does Apple even approve their apps after everything Google has done? :|

 

[jlgolson]

Why does Apple even approve their apps after everything Google has done? :|

Because that's an awesome way to get sued for antitrust violations.

 

[Flitzy]

Because that's an awesome way to get sued for antitrust violations.

How so?

Stores can determine what to sell all they want. Considering how many times we've seen Google NOT looking out for the consumer, why should Apple allow them access to the store? Spammers and unscrupulous app makers should be banned.

 

[rmwebs]

How so?

Stores can determine what to sell all they want. Considering how many times we've seen Google NOT looking out for the consumer, why should Apple allow them access to the store? Spammers and unscrupulous app makers should be banned.

When did Google spam?

If this was a Groupon app would this much hate be placed in the thread? I doubt it. It's actually hilarious that someone even thinks its spyware. There are pretty strict limits on what you can and cant do in an app. I'm pretty confident that Spyware isnt allowed

There is a simply solution to all the Google hate.

It's known as 'opt-out'.

 

[iammike1]

...and still no Google Drive app.

 

[pensoftware]

When did Google spam?

If this was a Groupon app would this much hate be placed in the thread? I doubt it. It's actually hilarious that someone even thinks its spyware. There are pretty strict limits on what you can and cant do in an app. I'm pretty confident that Spyware isnt allowed

There is a simply solution to all the Google hate.

It's known as 'opt-out'.

You have to log in with your Google account, so everything is tied to your ID, which has your name, which has all your e-mails. And then once you open the app, you can subscribe to a city to receive deals for that city. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to discover everything about you from what Google stores in their databases.

 

[uwetodd]

Didn't Google just get nabbed for not obeying said "pretty strict limits"?

When did Google spam?

If this was a Groupon app would this much hate be placed in the thread? I doubt it. It's actually hilarious that someone even thinks its spyware. There are pretty strict limits on what you can and cant do in an app. I'm pretty confident that Spyware isnt allowed

There is a simply solution to all the Google hate.

It's known as 'opt-out'.

 

[seang7]

Icons

Apple Passbook and Google Offers have similar app icons. Black with primary colors, one fans up and other down. Google made its MAPS announcement just prior to the WWDC, trying to steal Apple's thunder. It is sad, companies can innovate on there own, so they copy Apple and then try to beat them. Samsung Ultra book commercial even has a Macbook Air in it, trying to say that it is faster. In runs Windows 7. Just cause Samsung makes a lot of Apples components, or did does not give them the right to steal the technology. Look at a Samsung laptop, they stole the slot drive DVD player, (not Ultrabook obviously), keyboard design, track pad, aluminum look... As strange as it has been I respect Windows more than Samsung and Google. Windows 8 phone, OS, Tablet and laptops look nothing like Apple. Why does Apple even continue to do business with Google? Google makes millions off of Apple products. It's ridiculous how all these tech companies copy and steal Apple's ideas and yet Apple still does business with them. I would not do business Samsung and Google. Both have copied the design, stolen OS ideas. Yet Apple has made them millions of dollars.

 

[Rocketman]

I tried it and sent feedback to Google. Not ready for prime time.

 

[rmwebs]

You have to log in with your Google account, so everything is tied to your ID, which has your name, which has all your e-mails. And then once you open the app, you can subscribe to a city to receive deals for that city. It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to discover everything about you from what Google stores in their databases.

And? So what? Apple store a crap load of details, as do almost every single other big internet based company. Do you really think there is some guy at Google HQ sitting watching your life.

It's very odd. Governments can listen to your phone calls and monitor your internet activity, but all hell breaks loose when Google records that you were shopping.

Seriously, what's the big deal...why give a damn about Google storing your details (which only you can access and can opt-out of personalised ads).

I take it you are aware that Apple also have a very similar tracking system for iAds...

----------

Didn't Google just get nabbed for not obeying said "pretty strict limits"?

If you read the post you'll see that that wasn't an app, they (wrongly) exploited a security flaw in Safari on a web page. Very, very different from trying to get spyware into an app...

 

[FearlessFreep]

A bit surprised this icon was allowed when it looks almost identical to the one for iOS 6 Passbook.

 

[TwoBytes]

Nothing for the UK

 

[uwetodd]

And? So what? Apple store a crap load of details, as do almost every single other big internet based company. Do you really think there is some guy at Google HQ sitting watching your life.

It's very odd. Governments can listen to your phone calls and monitor your internet activity, but all hell breaks loose when Google records that you were shopping.

Seriously, what's the big deal...why give a damn about Google storing your details (which only you can access and can opt-out of personalised ads).

I take it you are aware that Apple also have a very similar tracking system for iAds...

----------



If you read the post you'll see that that wasn't an app, they (wrongly) exploited a security flaw in Safari on a web page. Very, very different from trying to get spyware into an app...

Friend,

I read the article and know it wasn't an app. My comment was directed to Google's relentless pursuit to ignore rules, strict limits, and public respect. Even if Google didn't mean to do it, people are going to have a hard time trusting a company that makes a living mining personal information and breaks our trust by manipulating said flaw. Yes, we can opt out. Great. But explain to me why anyone should trust a company that does all that? Does opt'ing out even make a difference? Yes, I'm sure other companies have their hand in the same cookie jar, but Google's got a reputation for crossing that line over and over again.

Namaste.

 

[SockRolid]

Groupon has some big problems. The coupon idea isn't original, and Groupon doesn't do anything better than other companies could (e.g. Google or even Apple).

And you can look at it from the perspective of businesses too. Groupon could actually be hurting their profits by driving down revenue. (Same can be said of OpenTable, whose cut drops many restaurants' margins to zero.)