Technology All The Way

In an attempt to make its search results more localized, Google has launched a new service 'Favorite Places'. The Google Local Business center has been around for quite a while now and after much afterthought, Google has finally decided to unleash the potential that was locked in the local search technology.

Google carefully analyzed the data in its Local Business Listing and distributed Stickers bearing Google's logo and a QR code to the top 100,000 of these businesses. The stickers will be displayed in store windows of these businesses. These so called 'window decals' will have some sot of a bar, known as a QR code for identifying these business. These can be scanned by a number of mobile devices. The primary requirement is that the mobile device must contain a camera and you would need an application top process the image of the bar code. Google specifically mentioned the iPhone, Blackberry and of course the Android phones that would be capable of making this feature available.

After scanning the decal, your app would be able to communicate with Google and send the bar code to the Google servers, which would then send you details of the local business such as Timings and reviews that have been posted by other customers. If you like the place, you can also 'star' it and it would be saved for your future reference.

Google gains by being able to provide much more targeted advertisement services because the advertisements can now be specific to the location of the user. Also, the ens user gets to know about the local deals and offers in the area in which he/she is currently wandering. Small businesses gain by being able to publicize themselves without the need of any blatant advertising, but only by signing up for this free service offered by Google.

And, of course, to maintain a high position on Google's pages, they would have to pep up their services to beat the competition. Seems like a win-win for all. What is yet to be seen is that what are the other biggies of silicon valley going to do about it. Of course, we don't expect them to sit and watch as Google slowly and steadily gobbles down the local businesses search as well.