Google Maps Call Feature Ripe for Abuse
Posted by WhoTheF on 20 November 2006 - 11:55 · 16 comments & 8531 views
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#1 Posted by Intelman on 20 Nov 2006 - 12:00
- I've used a similar feature on Live Local maps. http://local.live.com/
It works pretty well and is very convient. You always know your phone number and not theirs, so it is faster to punch in your number.
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#2 Posted by lunamonkey on 20 Nov 2006 - 12:04
- -dupe-
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(3 replies)
#3 Posted by lunamonkey on 20 Nov 2006 - 12:07
- So google end up forking out for the phone call? Nice :-)
Also, what would happen if you type a premium number as _your_ number, and the church group down the road end up with a $100 phone bill. ????????? -
#3.1 Posted by nvme on 20 Nov 2006 - 12:18
- i think that's where the press 1 to call the business comes in.. but it doesnt sound like that's even working 100% right now.
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#3.2 Posted by idbuythatforadollar on 20 Nov 2006 - 12:59
- 'So google end up forking out for the phone call? Nice :-)'
'and the church group down the road end up with a $100 phone bill. ?????????'
nope, because google end up forking out for the phone call. -
#3.3 Posted by lunamonkey on 20 Nov 2006 - 13:17
- Quote - idbuythatforadollar said @ #3.2
nope, because google end up forking out for the phone call.
I had this all worked out.... hmmm... reverse charges????.... I dunno.
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(1 reply)
#5 Posted by normangerman on 20 Nov 2006 - 13:40
- Google is God... not!
Windows Live Maps kicks Google maps out of the door and into the dupster
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#5.1 Posted by
markjensen on 20 Nov 2006 - 14:02
- Google has done more to support cross-platform usage, and as a Linux user, that is where I prefer to point my browser. Some features on Microsoft's site only work with IE, and I don't have that.
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#6 Posted by sagy on 20 Nov 2006 - 15:51
- Hahaha, I can't believe my contribution is on the main page
hehe.
Well, I think it's a pretty good feature tho.
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(1 reply)
#7 Posted by [f] on 20 Nov 2006 - 16:16
- It's funny that the place in the screenshot that they attempt to call, is in the center of an intersection...lol
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(1 reply)
#8 Posted by C_Guy on 20 Nov 2006 - 17:34
- So not only does Google track your web searching habits* but now your phone number too...at least for awhile. Nice!
*No flames, please - this was posted on a news release on Neowin recently.
Google - where we don't know the meaning of the word privacy.
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#9 Posted by rootwiler on 20 Nov 2006 - 19:04
- Notice on that GOOGLEMAP that area 51 is blocked out. lol
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#10 Posted by Coolme on 20 Nov 2006 - 20:59
- So let me get this straight.
1. you find a business on google maps
2. you enter your phone number
3. You will recieve a call from google and you are connected to the business number that you located in google maps
So my question is, when you recieve a call from google (and when the business recieves a call from google), will it be from a long distance number? Or will it be a local one?
As Google explains the service, when you click the "call" link next to a business' phone number, you'll be invited to enter your phone number. Once you select "Connect For Free," Google Maps calls the number you provided. Your phone should then ring, displaying the caller ID of the business, not of Google. After picking up, our experiences varied between two outcomes: often we heard ringing on the other end as Maps connects you to the business, and other times we heard an automated voice which required us to press "1" before the call could be connected. In either case, when the other end answers, you simply talk normally as if you had directly dialed their number on your phone.
The great part about this feature, aside from convenience, is that the service is essentially free. Given that both parties are dealing with incoming calls, there are no long-distance charges in your local calling area.
For those concerned about privacy issues when revealing phone numbers, Google said that the number will never be used to make any other calls to the user and that the "information will be deleted from our servers after a period reasonably necessary to operate the service."