Don’t Know Where You Are? Google Does
Bear Grylls could benefit from Google’s latest mapping technology.
The daring outdoorsman from Discovery Channel’s Man vs. Wild volunteers to have himself airlifted and dropped in the middle of no where without food, water, any idea where he is, or any idea where he’s going. Don’t you hate it when that happens?
Alright, so it doesn’t happen often. But let’s say you just landed in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. You hop the public transportation to what you believe is the stop nearest your hotel. You think you know how to get from point A to point B, but when you step onto the street you find you have no idea where you are or where your hotel is in relation. Don’t you wish someone could tell you where you are?
Google can.
It won’t come as news to anyone who has been using the feature on their phone, but Google recently announced the release of a browser-friendly version of its once mobile-only My Location pinpoint map technology. So now no matter where you are—be it with cell phone or with laptop—Google can pinpoint your location.
The My Location feature is currently only compatible with Firefox or Google Chrome so if you’re Internet Explore-ing… you’re on your own. For the rest of you, you’ll likely find the feature helpful when you need to get from here to there and aren’t entirely sure where “here” is.
Pinpoint Technology and Google Local Business Submission
The pinpoint technology adds emphasis to the growing importance of submitting your business to Google’s local search listing. Those using Google to find out where they are will probably also be looking for it to tell them where to go next by using the “Search Nearby” function to find local restaurants, theaters, pharmacies, hotels, etc. that are within walking or taxi distance.
So here I am lost in New York City. Google pinpoints my location at W 42nd St and 7th Ave. I’m dying to eat authentic New York style pizza so I “Search Nearby” for “pizza restaurants”. Bam. A listing for La Beleca (just two blocks away) is complete with address, phone number, hours of operation, and, most importantly, fellow user reviews. Perfect. Thanks, Google.
The technology my be a little too Big Brother for some, but I predict that businesses and users alike will benefit from Google helping us get to where we’re going by telling us where we are.
