Google Introduces Toll-Free Local Search
Google India has introduced phone based local search enabling users to dial a toll free number and get info about the local business – restaurants, movies etc.
The service is being tested in Hyderabad and users can call the toll-free number 1 800 41 99 99 99 to get details about the business and if needed, Google can forward the call to the business.
This is surely a good way to monetize via lead generation, but I believe Google is thinking beyond that.
In local search, data is a huge challenge – no single player has the correct data and given the fragmented market, offline way to collect data is just not scalable.
JustDial leads here, but of course, they won’t share the data with any third party. So, the only way out for Google is to give away a toll-free number, get closer to users and start collecting the queries. For queries that throw results, Google will monetize via forwarding the call to the business.
In future, I won’t be surprised if Google starts driving traffic to their toll-free number via their local product.
The service is currently being tested in Hyderabad (which I think is more of a logistic choice, since Google already has a support center there), but once Google starts spreading to other cities, the startups in local search space will face the heart burn.
» Complete coverage of local search market in india, especially this highly debated post.
tags: locals
About the author - Ashish Sinha is a Startup Mentor/Product Strategy Coach, and the founder/chief editor of pluGGd.in.
He has launched/managed couple of products (consumer as well as enterprise) in US and India, and now consults with startups/small businesses on their product/media strategy. He can be reached at: ashish (at) pluGGd.in [+91 98452 06443]
Really like the way Google is leveraging its lead position and the huge amounts of data to open up new possibilities.
rk
http://theindiastockmarket.blogspot.com/
Curious to see how this works out. I’m guessing Google will go solely on results generated through online content search. I find that online content about local business is very little, so not sure how appropriate the results will be. Hyderabad and Bangalore may have more content online, but Bombay, its so difficult to find local information online. JustDial has been really useful for this.
This is indeed a breakthrough, well if Justdial can do with the content part, similarly Google can very well pick there brand name to work wonders without the need of content repository
Google is smart in getting this done, if you have used Google Maps on Mobile, you could realize the “My Location” within the app can point your Lat and long with use of CELLID’s, Google doesn’t have the CELL ID but they have smartly coded to get your CELL ID to be in there repository!
Well, Its all in the name of technology things could be used, I strongly feel than the toll free [eventually can't be accessed by mobile phones], so target is only landlines, if INDIA has 230 million mobile subscribers , this needs to be addressed.
I feel people working on VOIP, like tringme,Sedna should play a role in eliminating any big players, yes its still possible, since Google doesn’t have a data repository, have a VOIP tag fro every listing for local search players and do a tricky code of VOIP working.we have been testing VOIP and LBS at Yulop, would update in due time!
Indeed any MNC working for the local improvement in local market is always treated o be a MNC [foreign companies] than a local player, let the world say anything, these players can’t make a mark since they aren’t local, they can only be a technical powered unit!
With our case studies and analysis mode, the only worthwhile note for a MNC is to get a tie up with a local player, probably a combination of Google-Airtel-Justdial is a deadly combo, but never mind any player can get his own space provided you address the pain!
Its bit disturbing to see the penetration of Internet subscribers in India isn’t huge, its merely 31 million , its growing at snails pace and china has nearly 300 million, and comparatively only locally groomed companies are doing great in China, its not Google or Yahoo…..i reckon same would be syndicated in INDIA in coming days…..wait for the revolution!
Google have a similar service ( Free -411 or Free -400) in US . so it make sense for them to deploy it in India to . but i am interesting in another aspect of this plan . unconfirmed report [ Kinda what you read on valleywag] says that when they launch this service in US the incoming voice stream was used to train their Voice-To-Text conversion software . so they got a tons of free trainer with wide variation in ascent and linguistic diversity virtually free of cost and without explicit consent. i am not saying that there is anything wrong in that tactics only curious if this is being done in india too.
it’s nice to see Toll Free 1-800 numbers are global.
to get yours.
http://www.tollfreenumber.org/global
This can become a huge lead based oppourtunity, wherein enquiries can convert into business with very little cost and high conversion possibilities. We have had a successful conversions through Just Dial across the country in 42 cities and have dedicated resources to capture these sales. Will wait to see how soon it is launched.
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[...] introduced toll free local search service for Hyderabad in April and has now launched the service in Delhi [...]
It seems call connect with a toll free no might become either a trouble at trai’s end or if not may be a boon due to free loadders. any way 1800 no;s are yet trouble to connect with mobile phones and mobile boom has surely contributed to just dial’s growth story
[...] voice service (Google launched voice service and is now integrating voice recognition to automate the search) – this needs some serious cash, if [...]
call me on my mobile 09703059990 i am from hyd i need google customer care help
TollFreeNums.com – a toll free number web site launched.
Google Help Line : 1800 419 99999 – fine in others category of TollFreeNums.com