Google Offers Beta Launches in Portland
By Gilbert Falso :: 4:53 PM
Today at the D9 Conference, Google Chairman Eric Schmidt and Vice President of Commerce, Stephanie Tilenius announced the beta launch of Google Offers, a Groupon-style deal site.
Google Offers is a subscription-based offering that provides limited deals and discounts for specific businesses and services. Subscribers who purchase a Google Offers deal can print out a voucher to redeem at the merchant, or use Google’s new Google Wallet service and bring their phone directly to the business.
The inaugural offer for Portland, Oregon, is $10 worth of coffee and/or pastries at Floyd’s Coffee Shop, a two-store chain of husband-and-wife-owned cafes. It seems to be the perfect offer for tech-savvy early adopters of the service, as the coffee shops boast “free Wi-Fi and electrical outlets at every table.” 2000 offers are available for $3 each. As of 4:30 eastern time on the launch date, only 775 offers remained.
Other Portland businesses slated to see Google Offers in this beta are Le Bistro Montage, Powell’s Books and Ground Kontrol Classic Arcade. After the Portland launch, Google Offers plans to expand to New York City and the San Francisco Bay area. Portland was selected as the ideal city for a beta launch because, according to Google, “Portlanders know how to mix the urban (killer coffee, music and art) and the small-town (easy walking, biking and socializing). There’s no end to the city’s great restaurants, coffee shops, hot spots and places to explore.”
Video: How Google Offers Works