The people who brought you Android and Gmail now want to bring potato chips and diapers right to your home with a new same-day delivery service.
Google announced Thursday that it is entering the same-day delivery fray. It rolled out Shopping Express, a new service that's kicking off in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you're lucky enough to be accepted into the delivery beta, you'll get free, unlimited same-day delivery for six months. That's six months of having toilet paper delivered for free. Now if only you could train your pets to open the door while you're incapacitated.
Google is currently accepting applications for beta testers (sign up here). If accepted, shoppers can order same-day delivery of goods from Target, Walgreens, Toys R Us, American Eagle, Staples, Office Depot, Blue Bottle Coffee and a local grocery store and toy store. During the signup process, potential shoppers were asked where they intend to have their goods delivered and what smartphone platform they use. That indicates Google has plans for at least an Android app and potentially a mobile site for iOS, Windows Phone and BlackBerry.
But Google's foray into the delivery field is a bit odd. The company doesn't have Amazon's long history of delivering goods. Even eBay with it's eBay Now app has more experience getting people what they want in a timely fashion. Google's retail experience has until now consisted largely of apps and a few Android devices.
Of course, you can't complain too much when you're getting six months of free delivery if accepted into the pilot program. Let's just hope all these same-day delivery services fare better than their spiritual forefather, the ill-fated victim of the first internet bubble, Kozmo.
