Google unveils Finance app for Android

March 4, 2009 | by Robert Nelson

The Google team have recently announced a new app that seems like it will please (or based on current market conditions, possibly anger) anyone who needs to regularly check the market. The new app is Google Finance and it was designed to allow users the ability to get their “news as fast as possible.” With that, the app opens up and launches directly in to a section for Markets, Portfolios and News. Users can get stock quotes, market data and even have it give you real-time streaming quotes. Additionally, the Finance app also (assuming you have a Google Finance account) automatically syncs your data.

Android users can download the Finance app from the Android Market, with just one limitation, it is only available for US based users.

Another positive note about the Google Finance app for Android is that (while official), it was developed as a side project that took advantage of their “20% time.” Either way, it appears to be great work, although I would be interested to hear what others who follow the market a little closer think.

[Official Google Mobile Blog]

Google unveils Finance app for Android

Android, android app, android market, finance, finance app, Google, google finance, google finance app, Google Mobile, google mobile finance, google mobile finance app

4 Comments

Colin Dean said: On March 4, 2009

I love this application. Seriously.

I’m a small time trader, but stock watching is practically a pasttime for me–I’ve been watching stocks since I was 12!

Bob Rose said: On March 5, 2009

Minor correction re: “it is only available for US based users.”. It only shows US markets, anyone can download and use it.

Sam said: On March 5, 2009

As with the recent UK RC9 update, yet again UK/European users are second-fiddle when it comes to Android. #rant

Tim said: On March 5, 2009

For Live LSE, Delayed US : see app called ‘SharePrice’

I have to admit having developed a true ‘comet’ based streaming app for the Android and iPhone that I get a little annoyed when developers refer to their apps as ‘streaming’ when in fact they ‘poll frequently’. A stream is a continual flow of water or in this case of course, data.

When comparing a frequently traded stock during market hours, such as GOOG or AAPL , the difference in update frequency between the SharePrice app and the Google Finance one is clearly visible.

When online dealing is only likely to be more prevalent on mobile, the ability to execute a deal against a true real-time streaming price will become more and more important. Prices are so volatile within the space of fractions of seconds that the days of being offered a price for many seconds will disappear – brokers and equally investors won’t want to take that risk.

For most of course a frequently updating price is probably good enough, just wish it wasn’t referred to as ‘streaming’.

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