Google Local Now Available For Users On The Go

People who are constantly on the go, and therefore the backbone of the mobile communications industry, now have a Google tool that can come in handy, especially if you are traveling to a destination you are unfamiliar with.
People who are constantly on the go, and therefore the backbone of the mobile communications industry, now have a Google tool that can come in handy, especially if you are traveling to a destination you are unfamiliar with.
Perhaps She Could've Used Google Local Mobile?
To address this need, Google launched Google Local for Mobile on Monday, which comes complete with a Google Maps interface, This new service will be incorporated with Google's existing mobile search service, which allows users to search the web and make use of the Google Images Search feature. Google Mobile Local Offers users the ability to "get local listings, maps and driving directions on your mobile phone or device," The mobile search feature offers those who query the service business locations, driving directions, and the ability to call the business you are looking for without having to remember the phone number. Not only that, but Google has also incorporated the Google Maps function into their Mobile Local Search service. According to Google's blog, the motivation behind this service is: It's so irritating when I leave the driving directions behind, or have to find another restaurant to try when my favorite is booked. I may be forgetful, but now at least there's Google Local for mobile. If your phone/device supports XHTML, you'll get the same results for search terms plus maps and driving directions. To use Google Local for Mobile on your phone, do the following:
Access the mobile web browser on any mobile phone or device that supports XHTML (WAP 2.0).
Type http://mobile.google.com/local.
Enter your local search query (for instance, 'sushi restaurant' or 'wireless hot spot') in the 'What' box.
Enter your location (for instance, 'New York, NY' or '10011') in the 'Where' box.
Select and hit the "Google Search" button.
Now just scroll through your search resultsOnce users are returned results, they can: Locate a business's exact location on the map by zooming in and out or shifting the map north, east, south or west; get driving directions to your desired location; and place a call directly to a business by highlighting and selecting its phone number. As mentioned, the Google Local Mobile service can also provide driving directions. To receive these instructions, do the following:
After conducting a local search, click the 'Driving Directions' located at the top of the page (you can also get Driving Directions directly from the home page).
You'll be redirected to a new page with the business' address in the 'End Address' box.
Enter your location in the 'Start address' box.
Click the "Get Directions" button.For more in depth questions concerning Google's newest service, please visit their FAQ. Currently, results for the mobile service will not be featuring Google advertising. However, there has been no word whether or not this will always be the same. As much as Google enjoys capitalizing on their ad services, one can expect to see AdWords ads appearing on their local mobile service at any time. To further this point, Reuters offers this: "[According to the Kelsey Group], Local search ad spending hit $162 million in 2004." With spending on local search advertising continuing to improve, it is quite feasible to suggest Google would also try to capitalize by featuring AdWords ads on local search results, be it web or mobile-based.

How does MSN stack up against the other DSL providers in my area?

How does the largest software giant in the word increase revenue? That is the billion-dollar question facing planners at Microsoft. As the market leader in operating system software with a market share of 95%, it becomes difficult to generate revenue while almost every PC on this planet is already running some version of Windows. The answer? High-speed internet access (MSN DSL) and video games (XBOX).
Wether by luck or by plan, Microsoft was able to hold off on their plans to become and ISP until -after- the dot-com crash, allowing Microsoft to purchase network capacity for pennies on the dollar. Coupled with Mircosoft's unequalled ability to repeat sell to their customers, MSN DSL was quick to pick up it's first batch of customers.

Since the initial launch in 2002, MSN DSL has built out it's portal to rival that of AOL, complete with it's own version of Instant Messanger, Spam-Filetered Email, and Parental Controls. Leave it to Microsoft to dominate any computer-related field it sets in its sights.

How do I find a DSL Provider?

In addition to limiting your search a broker will also help you identify important facts about your new service. Remember to look at the extra charges like equipment and installation. Sometimes these charges are waived and sometimes they are not. Also be careful to note the commitment. Is it 1 year or two years that you're committing to? Many companies will offer bigger discounts but lock you in to a longer contract. Don't get caught! Make sure you know what you're getting into by going to a broker and comparing DSL Providers side by side.

A DSL Speed Test is a great way to find out what kind of speed you're really getting. Is your connection really slow or is it just the fast that you're working with an old, slow, or over tasked computer? Simply find the DSL Speed Test by performing a search on Google and you'll quickly be on your way to finding out what you're really getting. You'll have to shut down your programs that are accessing the net and then perform the test which takes 30 seconds or so. It's very important to shut down programs accessing the net because these will impair the test and will cause your connection to appear slower than it actually is since some of it is being used.

One last "gotcha" is the introductory price. DSL Providers may claim to give you service for $20 ro $25 per month but it's likely an introductory price that lasts only a few months. If you're willing to sign on for the term, just make sure you know what you're paying when the introduction ends.

Google Buys Urchin

Google has purchased the web site stat company Urchin. Urchin is a competitor to companies such as Webtrends which help webmasters track visitors.
Urchin, based in San Diego, California, will apparently enable Google to offer stat services to websites. If Google follows its normal pattern it is likely there will be a large free component to the use of the software. Google may be primarily interested in Urchin's hosted version of this software in order to make it easier for its Blogger customers to utilize.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Urchin bills itself as the world's largest web analytics firm. The company states that they are used by over one million sites worldwide. Again, according to the firm, Urchin is the standard at most of the world's largest hosts and 20% of the Fortune 500. Urchin was founded in 1995 and is privately held.

According to Google, they plan to make Urchin tools available to web site owners and marketers to better enable them to increase their advertising return on investment and make their web sites more effective.

"We want to provide web site owners and marketers with the information they need to optimize their users' experience and generate a higher return-on-investment from their advertising spending," said Jonathan Rosenberg, vice president of product management, Google. "This technology will be a valuable addition to Google's suite of advertising and publishing products."