From Assistant To Payments: Everything Google Launched At 2019 Google For India Event
Google has been increasing its India focus for a few years now, pushing hard to digitise one of the largest economies of the world.
And today, at its fifth Google for India event, it unveiled a bunch of new things that it is bringing for the people of the nation to make them more comfortable going digital while helping them get familiar the Android ecosystem.
Reuters
Wi-Fi Network In Villages With BSNL
Google had initiated free Wi-Fi hotspots at railway stations in Mumbai as well as other cities and villages across the country. However, now it wants to move from the railway stations to the villages or their gram-panchayats. At the Google For India event, Google revealed that it'll be working with BSNL to set up internet connectivity using its Wi-Fi hotspot in villages across Maharashtra, Gujarat and Bihar.
Google Assistant Gets A Phone Number
Google wants to go to places where there is absolutely no internet connectivity. For enabling people to use Google Assistant without the internet, it has started a fixed phone line, in collaboration with Vodafone-Idea. By calling on 000 800 9191 000, people on 2G connectivity can connect with Google Assistant and ask questions that they normally would online. These calls will be absolutely free of charge and will be available in both Hindi and English.
Google Research India
Google is also dipping its toes for researching on AI and machine learning in India by setting up an AI research lab in Bengaluru. The lab will focus on advancing fundamental computer science and AI research while also applying these to combat challenges in areas of healthcare, agriculture while making existing apps more user-friendly.
More Languages For Google Services In India
Google has revealed that Hindi is the second most used language Google Assistant language, after English. And it plans to take things up a notch by adding more regional languages and upgrading the experience for users. It plans to bring these inclusions with languages like Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, and Urdu.
Instead of going through the lengthy process in settings to switch a language, users can simply say 'Hey Google, Talk to me in Hindi' and the assistant will henceforth converse with the user in Hindi. The feature will start rolling to all the Android smartphones in the coming months.
The language learning app Bolo has also included five new languages -- Bangla, Marathi, Tamil, Telegu and Urdu. The app is also soon going to include a more intuitive content pool with popular kids cartoons like Chotta Bheem and Katha Kids.
Google is also bringing upgrades to its 'Discover' tab to include regional news content in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Kannada, and Malayalam with Oriya, Urdu and Punjabi.
Even Google Lens now gets support for Tamil, Telegu and Marathi!
Google Pay For Business
Google Pay has been one of the most preferred UPI-based transaction client, used by over 67-million users every month and transacting over $110 billion annually. To bring more small to medium-sized businesses on the platform, Google has introduced Google Pay For Business to enable swift and convenient way of transacting digitally. This app eliminates the time-consuming and complicated verification process to deliver a more streamlined experience.
Google has also unveiled token-based cards for debit and credit cardholders where users can pay for things using the digital token instead of the card itself, safeguarding the card number. The service will go live in the next few weeks with Visa and Master Cards for HDFC, Axis, Kotak and Standard Chartered Banks. The service is also going to be compatible with Rupay cards.
Google Pay is also getting a 'Spot' feature that will allow users to transact and interact with brand merchants to connect the online and offline world. Spots will boast NFC based or QR based gateways to make transactions. As of now, spot has been introduced with services like UrbanClap, Goibibo, Redbus etc.
Jobs on GPay Spot
Google has also tried to eliminate the bridge of getting a beginner-job by going through non-transparent recruitment firms with Jobs Spot on Google Pay. It uses a machine learning-based matching algorithm, depending on factors such as skill sets, experience, compensation, location and availability.
It also includes a CV builder to help new candidates create a perfect profile. Google has also teamed up with the National Skills Development Corporation whereby Skill India students and graduates will be offered a seamless way to get started with their search on Jobs.
Employers joining this list include 24Seven and Healthkart in retail, Swiggy, Zomato, Dunzo and Delhivery in delivery and logistics, and Fabhotels in hospitality. More brands are expected to join soon.
