New Delhi: Google has launched a new tool that allows consumers to pay or do free video chats with experts. It is called Google Helpouts service and features roughly 1,000 partners in fashion, fitness, computers and other topics, available for live, one-on-one video consultations.
The video sessions can be as short as a few minutes or can last several hours, depending on the topic, with pricing set by each individual provider. People can choose help from others, instant or scheduled, on the new Helpout service based on their qualifications, availability, price, ratings and reviews.
All payments for charged services are done through Google Wallet, which would require customers to set up an account before a paid Helpouts session. Google is offering a full money-back guarantee if the experience doesn't meet the user's expectations.
While Google still leads in the searches, the trend indicates that people are flocking towards Facebook for advice from their friends about movies, restaurants and other topics.
Udi Manber, vice president of engineering at Google, said the company will keep things tight at the Helpouts website. For instance, for medical consultants, the company will do background checks to ensure that the provider has valid credentials.
Besides individual experts, large brands such as Sephora, Weight Watchers and Rosetta Stone will also be offering video sessions on the Helpouts service.
The search engine giant says it will take 20 per cent of the fee that the providers collect from consumers for the video chats, though it will initially not take the transaction fee for providers in the health category.
Consumers can leave reviews of the different video chat experts and Google will refund consumers who are not satisfied with their video consultation, the company said.
However, this is not for the firs time that it is supplementing its search engine with the knowledge of human experts. Earlier, the company conducted a service that hired researchers to field questions about homework and other subjects. The service, which charged anywhere from $2 to $200 per question, closed down seven years ago.
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