Google Dials the Phone and Shows Me The Way

Will we ever stop being amazed by Google? I certainly won't. The other day I wanted to see how far the trip was from Port Authority bus terminal to my appointment at a NY ad agency. I google mapped it and stumbled upon their latest twist--360 degree camera views of what I'd see if I walked or drove the route! I was able to zoom in and see every billboard, see inside all of the shop windows and basically take a tour of the route around the corner and down to 29th Street.

Then today I had to phone my riding instructor to schedule another ride. I knew where she worked but didn't have her cell, since mine is on the fritz after spending the night in the rain (!). So I googled 'store Bernardston' and found her store and then saw another new thing. It said phone this number, and by inserting my own phone number, Google dialed the number in Bernardston for me and I reached Debby!

You'll be seeing so much more of this in the months to come. I saw an ad for the iPhone on TV where a guy was at an aquarium and got a hankering to eat seafood. A few clicks on his phone and he found the listing and then got them on the phone to reserve a table at a restaurant with fried clams.

I still hear from people who tell me that their web presence isn't that important. Woe to any business owner who thinks that it doesn't matter. I still hear too about companies with no website at all. Ok, ok, well I and thousands of others just won't find them the next time we're searching for seafood or general stores I guess.