Google has begun listing apps in its search results when searches are performed from mobile devices. Apps listed in search results include those in the App Store from Apple and from Google’s own Android Market. The links that show up will include the basic information about the individual app, such as who the developer was, the price, and any ratings information.

 

Clicking on a link for an app will send you to the page where the app appears in the store that is featuring it. Google does not seem to be playing favorites in this instance, as it sends mobile users to the Apple Store as often as it sends them to Android Market.

 

All is not sunshine and roses, however. There seems to be a few problems with how these search results are implemented at present. It can be a bit of a problem to get the links for the apps to appear, depending on what keywords you are using. A relevant example that has been mention before is searching for the keyword, “Shazam”. You won’t get the links this way, but if you should type “download Shazam” then the links are there.

 

This glitch is especially problematic when searching for apps that do not have a name that is unique, or that have corresponding apps that are more popular. If you were to search for “Download Dropbox”, for example, you will not be given the App Store link on the iPhone. You’ll only see a link to Dropbox’s download page for the desktop application.

 

Even though the search results are still a bit quirky, this new addition of Google’s should give apps more exposure through the contextual searches that users will do. Though the feature is only available in the United States at present, Google believes that it will definitely be released worldwide in the near future.