Froogle to List Local Store Inventories

Google has plans to tie Google Base into its Froogle shopping search, which would allow users to scour a third-party database of product inventory. Such a service would take the guesswork out of finding what stores have the products a consumer wants, Google said.

The offering, for example, would allow a user to type a search term into Froogle such as "Xbox 360 Philadelphia" or "PSP New York," and receive a map showing retail locations with the product in stock.

Google has not disclosed the database provider, although the company did say several hundred chains of stores are included, among them Best Buy, Circuit City, Home Depot and others.

The service will be only as good as the information in it, however, and Google said it could not necessarily guarantee that inventory information would be accurate and current.

Participation in the Froogle local service will be offered free of charge to U.S. retailers. Google will make its money by placing text ads across the service's pages.

The new capability is expected to make its first appearance on Froogle sometime Tuesday morning.