Google acquired TalkBin to provide an instant feeback and response mechanism to its local business partners and the consumers with which it tries to connect them.
Google has purchased TalkBin, which makes a software platform
that lets consumers send feedback, suggestions and questions to local businesses via Android smartphones
and the iPhone.
Businesses can then read and respond to their customers on the fly. See this brief screenshot of the mobile apps on TalkBin's homepage.
TechCrunch first noted the acquisition April 25, though a brief note on TalkBin's homepage and the lack of
any evidence of TalkBin in either the Android Market or Apple's iTunes store suggest
the company had yet to finish its work before getting snapped up by Google.
"When we started building TalkBin in 2010, we set
out to find a better way for consumers to connect with their local businesses
in a more personal way. While we're proud of what we've accomplished, we
believe Google's awesome mobile and local teams combined with their consumer
reach will help us make our bigger goals a reality."
Google confirmed the buy but declined to discuss
financial terms or provide any specifics about who from the company was joining
the search engine.
"We're thrilled to welcome the TalkBin team to
Google," a Google spokesperson said. "They've built a cool way for
customers to engage with local businesses, and we think they'll be a great fit
for our mobile and local teams."
Google said it will briefly suspend TalkBin's services
while it makes a few updates. Current customers may email help@talkbin.com for
more information. Any interested businesses can sign up on TalkBin's homepage.
Google has been making a furious local search and
e-commerce push in the last year but has accelerated its pace since failing to
acquire Groupon for $6 billion last year.
The company is slowly rolling out its Google Offers local
deals Groupon clone in Portland, New York City and San Francisco.
Feedback technology such as that provided by TalkBin
could help Google improve relations between its local business partners and the
consumers the search engine seeks to bring to them.
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