Today Google launched the location-based Field Trip app on the iPhone. Released on Android last year, Field Trip sends push notifications when users are near a particular landmark, person, or, most notably, sale.
Created by NianticLabs@Google, Field Trip runs in the background and prompts user action only as necessary. It is a counterpoint to check-in apps like FourSquare that require the user to take the initiative.
As Inside Social Commerce reported earlier this week, Google is expected to launch same-day shipping to compete with Amazon Prime as well as WalMart’s program. We could see Field Trip tying into this plan, with the ability to catch a sale at a nearby store and, instead of hauling it home, having Google automatically send it to your house.
Field Trip is coming to the iOS with some solid partnerships in place. As we reported in January, the start-up Scoutmob is now the exclusive discount locater for Field Trip. It also is getting content from the food ratings empire Zagat, which Google purchased in 2011 for an undisclosed amount.
According to App Data, Field Trip is currently no. 41 on the Android Travel & Local chart. It isn’t on the iOS chart yet.