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Google test-drives location search tool

By Scarlet Pruitt

September 23, 2003 12:00 PM ET

IDG News Service - Google Inc. is playing with the idea that with online real estate, as with off-line real estate, what really matters is location, location, location. The company's Google Labs division unveiled a test version of a new search-by-location service Monday, allowing users to query for stores and services that are close to home.
To help users find more geographically specific information on the Web, the new service analyzes Web page content for clues about location, such as business addresses, Google said in a posting about the new service on its site.
The search tool includes term and U.S. address search fields. Google warned, however, that search by location is a work in progress and may be periodically taken down for improvements.
By Tuesday, two users already posted comments about the new offering on Google's discussion board. One remarked that the quality of information returned may be spotty, since the searches only return businesses with Web sites. Another queried whether the location searches would be extended internationally.
On the Labs site, Google said it's looking for feedback to improve the service, noting that "it's got a way to go."
While still in beta testing, the new feature adds to Google's growing search toolbox, which the company hopes to expand to retain a search market edge. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company also introduced a news alert service and a built-in calculator function in recent months.

Reprinted with permission from

IDG.net
Story copyright 2009 International Data Group. All rights reserved.

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