Google's latest innovation, Google Helpouts, connects people who need help to the individuals who can help them, USA Today reported. But the feature, which launched Tuesday, isn't called Google Handouts. Subscribers must pay a fee to the service providers, who must give 20 percent of their earnings back to the world's most famous search engine.
Instead of posing a question, like on Ask.com, users start by answering Google's very basic question, "I need help with..." because "very often you don't know what questions to ask," according to Udi Manber, vice president of engineering at Google.
Then, they type in the service they're looking for and browse through a series of profiles complete with credentials, performance reviews, a price, and a picture. Most transactions take place over Skype or some related form of video chat, according to Google's page.
Not just anyone can join Google Helpouts - at least not yet. Though the promotional video below makes it seem like subscribers can enlist the services of almost anyone in the world (and the application's slogan "real help from real people in time" would seem to support that idea), for now Google is issuing permits to service providers by invite only, according to USA Today.
Still, Google has recruited over 1,000 respected service industry members from all types of fields such as computer repair, yoga lessons, health care, baking, and more, according to USA Today. From the video alone, customers received musical lessons, make up advice, cooking tips, digital photo help, and yoga instruction.
Services are rendered by the job or by the minute. That distinction can be important depending on the service and if it is a business or individual offering it. For example, a cooking lesson from Kitchit, an online cooking business, costs $24.99 per help out, which is defined as one 15-minute session. Just below Kitchit in the cooking section is "Restaurant Ninja" Jason Kessler, a professional food writer who charges $1/minute for restaurant recommendations or personalized recipe suggestions for home-made meals. That means a customer may only owe a few dollars if he or she just wants the perfect place to take a date. Users can also send service providers like Kessler messages (which are usually free) before enlisting their services.
Time reporter Matt Peckham is a little suspicious of Google Helpout's spotless five-star reviews and the tech and musician aficionado isn't familiar with some of the names in those categories, but he points to the money-back guarantee, the "social credibility system", and his own level of intrigue as positives for Google's new service. He also believes that making consumers pay is ultimately a good sign.
Those interested in offering their services for a fee can apply and maybe catch Google's attention, though as mentioned that opportunity is tightly controlled by Google.
