Google working secretly on developing new product: Helpouts

One of the mockups

TechCrunch first reported about this new development and the website was told by one of its tipsters that Google is currently testing this “Helpouts” service internally in its Mountain View office. The search giant is essentially looking at a service that will enable users like you and I to buy and sell services on live video. The platform will allow merchants and consumers to come together “on both an immediate and scheduled basis”, and while doing so, let the former to create personal profiles, benefit from the service’s payment and scheduling features and offer “robust search and discovery tools” to consumers.

A team comprising two dozen engineers at the company have been reportedly working on this project since late June.

All this sounds very interesting and Google reportedly will be taking the help of its popular Hangouts service to further its plan. Interestingly, Google Helpouts will also be integrated with Google Wallet in particular, notes the report.

More from News Analysis

In addition to all this information, a bunch of leaked mockups of Google’s Helpouts service feature on the report. From what one can see in those images, the service will allow users to “Start Helpouts”, at times for a certain fee. Once it is live, news has it that the service will include categories like computers, education, food, health, hobbies and repair.

In fact, if the report is to be believed, Google even partnered with a few brands during its internal testing, including One Medical Group, Sears, Weight Watchers and Alliance Frances. When it finally goes live though, Google Helpouts reportedly will also feature individual merchant listings, offering free and paid services to interested consumers.