No matter what you’re searching for, you should get the best answers—whether they’re on the web or in an app. Two years ago we announced a big first step in making Google Search even more useful when you’re searching on Android: we started showing links to content from apps you had on your phone, from reviews of the French restaurant you’re considering for dinner to last-minute seats for the Giants game. Recently we expanded this so that you can also find content in Android apps you don’t yet have, with links to install apps that might have a great answer to your question.
Last week, we announced the next step: developers can now get their apps indexed to appear in search results on iOS as well. This week, we’re rolling this out so you’ll start seeing in-app content from an initial set of partners among search results when searching with the Google app or in Chrome for iPhone and iPad (you need to be signed in). From there, just tap the search result to open that app.
Try telling Google “I need a reservation at Bombay Cricket Club” and you’ll see results from the OpenTable app.
This is a small first step, with links to just a handful of apps: Eat24, Free Dictionary, Huffington Post, OpenTable, Pinterest, SeatGeek, Slideshare, Tapatalk, Yellow Pages, YouTube and Zillow in the U.S., Biblia JFA Offline and Letras in Brazil, Cookpad and Tabelog in Japan, Domain in Australia, and eBay Kleinanzeigen in Germany. Of course, we’re working on adding many more of your favorites.
Finally, in addition to helping you find content from the apps you already have on your iPhone or iPad, we’ve also made it easier to discover great new apps right in Google Search (the same way you can already do on Android). Now when you search for things like “word games” you’ll see a list of relevant apps in your search results that you can easily install from there.
Stay tuned as we’ll be expanding the ways we can help you find great content from more apps in the coming months.
Posted by Eli Wald, Product Manager