Google Tackles Facebook in India With Hyper-Local Social Network
- Neighbourly debuted in Mumbai and will expand to other cities
- Google has long aspired to be the go-to platform in India
Photographer: Kainaz Amaria/Bloomberg
A Mumbai train commuter who witnessed an accident earlier this month, turned to his smartphone to ask neighbors how to help a bleeding victim. Responses poured in instantaneously. Take him to the station master at the next stop; ask the ticket collector for first aid; call 138 for emergency help and so on. Not long after, the commuter posted a happy ending: the injured party had received medical attention.
This transpired within minutes on Neighbourly, the hyper-local social network unveiled in India this month by Google’s Next Billion Users program. The neighborhood network -- available in Mumbai and soon to expand to other cities –- lets people share local expertise and crucial information with others in the vicinity. The crowd-sourced recommendations range widely: kitchen cabinet makers, service stations that repair electric scooters, cricket ticket sellers, gardening supplies stores and much more.