Google's New Click-to-Call Service

teknopagan writes "Google has debuted a new service called Click-to-Call, in which they will connect you by phone to any of their advertisers. You click a phone icon next to the ad, enter your phone number, and Google calls you and connects you for free to the advertiser."

Comments

Phone Sex

[fembots]

Not that this is the first and only thing in my mind, but if phone sex operators are using this service......

privacy vs authentication

[Anakron]

How do they make sure that the number entered is indeed from the person interested in the product? What stops me from entering (say) Darl McBride's number a million times?

Re:privacy vs authentication

[XorNand]

If I were designing the system, the service would call you first and when you answered, it would say "This is Google Click-to-call. Press 1 to connect to the advertiser, press 2 if you didn't make this request". If you pressed 2, it would blacklist the number for a while.

The biggest bummer for some advertisers is that I doubt that it'll work for callers behind a phone system and without a direct number. The callback number will just go to a receptionist or to IVR (auto-attendant) greeting. There goes much of B2B market.

If Google knows everything

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't they know the reason that I use the web is because I don't like the phone?

Re:If Google knows everything

[kebes]

True... often I use the web because it's much more efficient than trying to talk to someone who doesn't know what they are talking about.

On the other hand, one thing I hate about calling a business is that I have to wait on hold for a very long time. Wouldn't it make more sense for me to give them my phone number, and then they can call me when they have a rep available? I'll be in my office all day... and typically I don't get as many calls as they do, so when they call I probably won't be busy. It just makes sense.

And besides, if I'm thinking about buying a product, and then I have to wait on hold, I'll probably give up and not buy it. If, on the other hand, I can just type in my number and wait for the vendor to get hold of me, then it's much more likely to work out for everyone (me and vendor). I know in the past I've done this before with some companies. They have a web form, you enter the info, and a short while later you get a phone call from someone (who has presumably read your question/request and is ready with an answer/offer). Google is formalizing this system, making it a snap to put customers in touch with companies.

In short, I think it's a good idea.

just a thought

[ladyjane_calm]

will our children mock google the way our generation mocks microsoft?

Re:Are they using Asterisk?

[Justifiable_Delusion]

I must say...Google continues to astound me. Continually they offer services which rewrite the rulebook. They are moving forward into new areas while others are simply wading and reacting, hoping to catch crumbs and turn them into silver while Google is reaping a harvest of diamonds and platinum. There is a reason google's tock just broke 400 and flew past it. And there is a reason they are hiring teh greatest minds in our country.

I for one welcome our new search engine overlords...who knew?

Re:Are they using Asterisk?

[poopdeville]

Pure genius.

Indeed. I'm going to start making google prank call my friends immediately!

Re:Are they using Asterisk?

[TooMuchToDo]

This isn't a feature so everyone can have free calls. This is something Google can show off to their Google Ad customers, to help them drive more revenue.

Note to Slashdot readers: It's not a crime to be in business to make money. It's the way you do it that matters. Google just happens to be very good at making money in a very friendly way.

Re:Example?

[TragicLad]

Screenshots can be found on Greg Yardley's blog

You couldn't be more wrong

[TubeSteak]

You either don't like corporations or you're trolling.
Either way, your statements are wrong.

A corporation is created for a variety of reason like limiting liability or creating an 'ongoing concern'. Corporations can be used to raise funds. Can you sell 10,000 shares of stock in a partnership?

The main reason anyone files for articles of incorporation is to separate the business from themselves. If your corporation tanks, creditors won't come after your house, your car and your savings account. If you are the business, everything you own is on the line.

Further, I take issue with your blanket statement that "it is simply evil to have the power." Is it evil for police to own guns? Is it evil for you or I to own them? Is a pointed stick evil?

Like anything else, a corporation (or a gun) is neither good nor evil. It is neutral. You can go file for articles of incorporation and then do nothing with them... and guess what? Neither you nor the world becomes 'more' evil.

Re:Are they using Asterisk?

[miyako]

I can't speak for any other slashdotters, but I can immediately think of two reasons why this service could be useful.
The first is that I have a fair few family members who are completely computer illiterate. Once every couple of months they call me wanting to buy some obscure thing, and I have to google for it, find a couple of sites, read what is available and what the cost is to them over the phone. They write it down on a bit of paper and call me back in a few days to tell me what they want, I drive over there, get some cash or a check, deposit it into the bank, wait for the deposit to go through, get online, and order it for them. This is a pain that could be largely mitigated by me simply being able to google and then enter their phone number and allow them to talk to a representitive.
The second thing that I think this could be useful for is for helping smaller sites build trust with customers. I know there have been a few sites that I have decided not to buy from simply because the site looked unprofessional and I wasn't sure I could really trust the site to A: not steal my information, or B: actually deliver what I buy. In this case I think that smaller and lesser known sites might benefit from this service.