Google Set To Steal Froogle's Thunder

Google's main search engine is soon going to take on some distinctly Froogle-ish characteristics. Supposedly, Google "has no plans to monetise this product-search capability with display ads or listing fees, but that could change . . . ."

Juan Carlos Perez detailed some of the changes. "When people search for products on Google.com, the system will present them with another search box so that they can refine their query," he wrote. "After people refine their query, Google takes them to a second page populated with product results from the Google Base listings service," Perez continued. The changes should benefit both shoppers and merchants - and be just "in time for the holiday shopping season." Perez spoke to Jonathan Garriss, PESA's executive director. "Anything that improves product search and helps shoppers find what they want is always positive for a merchant like me," Garriss said. "It will make it a smarter search." He also mentioned plans to improve the product information he feeds from his store to Google Base. The changes at Google.com will coincide with a "de-emphasis" of Froogle. Del.icio.us | Digg | Yahoo! My Web | Furl Bookmark Murdok: Doug is a staff writer for Murdok for the latest eBusiness news.