Groupon has launched updates to its iPhone and Android apps, which make search “a front-and-center experience,” as the company says.

Here’s a look:

Groupon has this to say about search’s importance to its business:

Search is a critical part of Groupon’s product strategy. Most Groupon merchants now make their deals available on an ongoing basis, and search allows customers to find only the deals most relevant to them in this expanded marketplace. In iPhone v.2.5 search is prominent with a clickable icon that allows customers to navigate from anywhere in the app.

Search is also a central element of Android v.2.4, which also includes a sleek new interface for 10-inch tablets. The Android tablet market is growing quickly, and, with support for tablets, the Groupon Android app is now a great complement to Groupon’s highly regarded iPad app.

An increased focus on search from Groupon is long overdue. People want deals on specific things, not just the latest massage offer that they happen to email you on a given day. This is why Google’s AdWords has been so successful. Advertisers can cater to what people are actually looking for. Likewise, with Groupon, this should be a basic element of the service, and promoted as such.