The year 2018 saw smartphone users download 194 billion apps worldwide. The first quarter of 2019 offered a choice of around 2.5 million apps. In such times when apps rule the digital world, Google has decided to scrap its two-year-old app Neighbourly. The reason cited – it didn’t perform as expected.
The app was first launched as a test in Mumbai in May 2018, to let the users explore their surroundings or neighbourhood with the help of local experts. In November, it expanded to include a few more cities. However, it didn’t create the buzz to even come out of beta most likely because it didn’t have enough users to deliver an engaging experience.
In an email addressed to its customers, Google mentioned that while the participants did answer the queries about their neighbourhood that were put across by other users, the project didn’t follow the growth trajectory as projected. The email further says, “As a community, you’ve come together to celebrate local festivals, shared crucial information during floods, and answered over a million questions. But Neighbourly hasn’t grown as we had hoped. In these difficult times, we believe that we can help more people by focusing on other Google apps that are already serving millions of people every day.”
The app will be functional till 12th May and users can download their content until October 12. Google hopes that Maps Local Guide will be helpful enough to guide people around.
