Google Local debuts call feature
Cory Bergman November 16th, 2006
Whoa, this is cool. Go to Google Local or Google Maps and search for something, say, “Seattle pizza.” In the left column, you’ll see “Pagliacci Pizza” with a phone number and a small “call” link. Click the link and you’ll be prompted to enter your phone number. Click connect and within two seconds (yes, that fast) your phone will ring and you’ll be connected instantly to Pagliacci Pizza. The service is free, both for callers and the businesses. It doesn’t take a genius to see the upside here: Google can now track the number of phone leads it generates for companies without having to get them to sign up for it. They don’t have to launch any ad campaigns. And no messy go-between phone numbers to track the leads. Once Google builds up an audience of callers — and gets businesses hooked — they can start charging for each lead. Smart.
11 Comments Add your own
1. Don | November 16th, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Wow. Wow. Wow. Incredible. Revolutionary.
2. Amanda | November 16th, 2006 at 10:04 pm
Wow, can we say “crank calling” - you can type in anyone’s number.
I don’t think Google has thought this cunning plan out very throughly (or they have never dealt with teenagers).
3. thedetroitchannel | November 16th, 2006 at 10:23 pm
i wonder how long the delivery time is from seattle to detroit. it’s after midnight here and a pizza sounds real good about now. i’m hoping the guy will stop and pick up a 6 pack for me along the way!
4. thedetroitchannel | November 17th, 2006 at 7:09 am
9am: still waiting! (on the pizza only…went out and got my own suds)
5. Bob | November 17th, 2006 at 9:30 am
I remember when the first voip was out. It worked just like this. Also the time everyone started getting caller id’s. Had a lot of fun with it.
6. Cory | November 17th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Totally crank caller territory. I have to say, I’m a little tempted.
7. discreet_chaos | November 17th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I’m not going to do it, but I’m sure it’ll be short for this world because it’s just another worthless idea from the Google braintrust. (Have they come up with anything worthwhile and original, ever?)
Though, something that does prompt a question is that the helpfile says when you’re phone rings, your caller ID will show the business. I’m not sure of the logistics of how they actually place the call, but how can they spoof a caller id and couldn’t that raise safety concerns for battered women and possibly others? (It’s not your drunken husband calling, instead it’s your mother)
8. Michael Chastain | November 17th, 2006 at 10:17 pm
That cat’s already out of the bag. There are any number of sites on the Internet which for a small fee (or even free sometimes I think) will allow you to spoof any name and number you’d like for caller ID.
9. discreet_chaos | November 18th, 2006 at 12:03 pm
Thanks Micheal. I also posted the query on my blog and though I haven’t gotten any step-by-steps, I was told that it can easily be done with less than $50 worth of stuff from Radio Shack.
I couldn’t find the reference yesterday, but it seems that somewhere, I’ve seen at least one jurisdiction which places some kind of limit concerning Caller ID. I don’t recall the specifics or whether it’d apply in this case, but I’m not sure that spoofing is a legal activity everywhere. Though, it’s not like Google to think that laws apply to them, anyway.
10. chiropractic_promotion | December 7th, 2006 at 10:55 am
This is so insane. I have spoken with chiropractors who have seen lots of calls after submitting to google local in the major cities.
What are they gonna come up with next???
11. Sam | January 18th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Wow, thanks for the excellent information!
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