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03/28/2024 05:15:03 am

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Google Offers Virtual 'Genius Bar' Through Hangouts

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Google is now offering a way to speak to a specialist on a Google product.

Google is implementing a new virtual 'genius bar' on its Google Play Devices store, allowing people to chat through voice or video on a specific product in the library.

Currently, helpers will only be able to talk about smartphones, tablets and Chromebooks on the store, meaning Nest products and any OEM partner's devices aren't in the plan.

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The video chat will utilize Google's Hangouts infrastructure, giving users a familiar platform on the web to chat to salespeople. The Hangouts infrastructure was previously used in Helpouts, a new tutorial and lessons video service.

It's similar to Amazon's Mayday service currently available on the Kindle Fire HDX and Fire Phone. But instead of tech support, the helpers will try to sell you the device, detailing all of the features and answering questions.

Users will be able to contact helpers from 6am to 6pm (PT), but it's currently only in an experimental phase, meaning not everyone will get the option to speak to support.

Google is using in-house support staff along with contractors from Milestone Technologies, which also works on Apple and Cisco online support.

The current implementation is part of a bigger goal of online ecommerce, offering a way for users to find out all of the answers for a specific product before spending money.

In the future, Google wants this service to be available for all Android, Chrome OS and Google goods, allowing users to query staff on a vast range of items and find what's best for them.

Google currently has no physical presence in retail. Its barge project was cancelled in 2014 following safety issues brought up by the Coast Guard. The barge was meant to be the first showroom for all of Google's products. But it looks like the cancellation will be a minor setback to Google's goal of ruling commerce.

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