From google Maps at 5:00 pm EST:
The Google Local Business Center is unavailable for the next hour
We appreciate your patience as we perform some routine system maintenance.
More specifically, we’re updating ‘the backend’ (to employ that catchy, catchall moniker coined and lent to us by engineering folks who work on all of the technical fiddly bits behind the scenes but know we communications folks can’t very well say ‘We’re updating all of the technical fiddly bits behind the scenes’ and expect you, an enlightened Google user, to take us seriously or at least not wonder aloud ‘ Wait, what sort of bits were those again?’).
So please check back in sixty minutes. Maybe less, considering the time you’ve invested in deciphering this message.
Hi.
I saw this message too. Going on 2 hours now. Biting nails awaiting my re entry into Maps as the new and improved and rehabilitated Mapspammer ex con.
I am beginning to understand how Jim Rockford must have felt.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — October 30, 2008 @ 6:59 pm
hehe, maybe this was caused because you took over microsoft. and microsoft took over yahoo, etc. wishful thinking:P
Comment by martijn (77 comments) — October 30, 2008 @ 8:04 pm
[...] Local Business Center awaiting updates Mike was fast with his catch on the LBC awaiting an update! I wonder if it has something to do with his previous post that has drawn some attention. Anyway, [...]
Pingback by Google Local Business Center awaiting updates : Local Search Optimization — October 30, 2008 @ 8:08 pm
@Martijn
Well from my point of view that would be bad news if it is due to that.
Google’s strategy of relying on blogs & posts to the groups to identify high profile spam and then only removing that one piece of spam really is an abrogation of their responsibility. Effectively they have shifted the burden on to me or some other blogger to do what really should be done from a system design stand point. They should be engaged in continual improvement not marketing triage.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1947 comments) — October 30, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
@Panzermike
Well the difference is that Rckford was falsley imprisoned.
Mike
Comment by Mike Blumenthal (1947 comments) — October 30, 2008 @ 8:17 pm
So much for my wishful thinking of having served my time of almost a year of banishment and 30 percent loss in revenue since Maps started dominating the search results to the exclusion of NLS.
The same message is back:
“System Error
We’re sorry, but we are unable to serve your request at this time. Please try back in a few minutes.
Try again | Return to previous page”
In Google terms a few minutes apparently is months? Sorta like “town” Apparently town means the entire state under the Maps guidelines?
Weird.
Comment by panzermike (225 comments) — October 30, 2008 @ 10:04 pm
btw. it will also be down on the 6th of november according to maps guide brian
Comment by martijn (77 comments) — October 31, 2008 @ 7:10 am