All three of the major search engines are making moves to capitalize on the popularity of mobile device usage. One of the latest examples can be seen in a huge update by Yahoo. The Sunnyvale, California-based internet giant recently rolled out App Search, a new feature marketers can leverage to the take the pain out of the app discovery process. Let’s examine what this feature is all about and what makes it so interesting.
An Array of Apps at Your Fingertips
The new Yahoo App Search can be found on a separate section of the company’s primary domain, though it is easily accessible from the homepage. On this page, you can look for apps just as you would content via an online search engine. The feature allows you to scan its robust database of mobile applications and gives you the option to filter the results based on criteria that includes operating system (Android or iOS), free or paid titles, relevance, and rating. Yahoo App Search is currently available on both mobile and desktop platforms.
Yahoo’s new App Search product certainly seems to have a lot of potential. This is mainly because it provides something that Apple does not, which is a centralized repository that can be used to search for iPhone apps online. However, it does have some shortcomings that could make it less desirable to serious apps seekers. For example, although you can filter results based on price, there is currently no way to discover deals and discounts like what is offered on Appshopper.com. In addition, aside from browsing the highest rates titles you can’t find what is currently trendy at the moment like you can with competitor Appsfire.com. These may appear to be simple omissions, but they are actually a big deal when it comes to finding the best apps at the best price.
Something Extra for Mobile App Seekers
In conjunction with App Search, Yahoo also rolled out AppSpot. This tool aids in the discovery process by providing the user with more ways to search for mobile applications. AppSpot offers a built-in search engine as well as recommendations, brief title summaries, and links for direct downloads. Early reviews claim that it is faster than the native search functionality in iTunes and makes the discovery process more convenient than the App Store, which now reportedly has over 425,000 titles. The Yahoo AppSpot app is currently available free of charge to Android and iPhone users.
Potentially Useful Tools for App Discovery
Yahoo’s entry into the app discovery arena can be considered a respectable attempt. Both App Search and the related AppSpot could potentially prove useful for marketers in seek of mobile applications to help manage their business operations. However, Yahoo still has some catching up to do if it wants to compete with the other options that are currently available. Surprisingly, it is the much smaller and lesser known startup companies that appear to be excelling the most in this market.
