Understanding Google My Business & Local Search
Google Adding Desktop Hangout Calling to Knowledge Panel in Search & Local Finder?
I have been traveling for the past week so I am not sure when this hit the street or that I am seeing it because I am inside of Google but Google has added the ability to directly contact a business via the Knowledge Panel.
This is a feature that was first tested in 2006 and made appearances throughout the years.
The current iteration that I am seeing drives the user from the linked phone number directly into a hangout screen and is immediately ready to dial the business.
Are others seeing this? I am inside the GooglePlex and no one here seems to know about the feature.
Here are the screen you see when you click on the phone number in the knowledge panel:
Caveats
There are still some very weird interface quirks. For example if you have any problem that prevents call completion you are dropped into the Hangouts interface and given the option to fix settings. However once fixed there is NO way to complete the call without exiting and starting over.
© Copyright 2024 - MIKE BLUMENTHAL, ALL RIGHT RESERVED.
Comments
9 Comments
I see it.
I think it’s been there for a while.
Here’s an iteration of that:
http://searchengineland.com/google-knowledge-graph-adds-phone-numbers-hangout-integration-194486
Mike, while you’re at the GooglePlex, test all the things! See what else you might be able to find. 🙂
Interesting, I know it’s on my phone, and use it quit frequently, but didn’t notice it on the desktop until now; however, it does relate well with what Project Fi is suggesting: “One number to chat across networks and devices,” https://fi.google.com/about/experience/. Maybe Project Fi is why it’s being seen on desktops now, too?
Yep, seeing that pretty much across the board here in the UK too.
So instead of putting the phone number up so you can call it, google is inserting a hangout into the process.
WHY???? WHY NOT JUST THE PHONE NUMBER???? WHY DOES GOOGLE HAVE TO BE INVOLVED?????
They are going to charge for this, or they are going to demand more control, now not only of your site, but your phone calls.
Google = not big brother, but overwhelmingly gigantic unrelentingly controlling, and having their hands in your pockets every which way, ABSOLUTELY CONTROLLING BROTHER.
Beware!!!! Just put the phone number in and quit intruding into every inch of our business.
Who in which governments are going to stand up and say enough!!!!!
Mike,
I am NOT seeing it in the knowledge panel, but apparently the business you shared is closed right now, so maybe it shuts off after the business is closed?
Inside the Google Plex, eh? That sounds exciting!
Mike,
Placing a call with just a click from the Search results makes me wonder if this has anything to do with the Google Home Service ads being tested in San Fransisco. They can track click-to-call links from mobile easily enough, but if it takes off trying to do forwarding numbers for every business participating would not be as easy as just routing the call through hangouts to track and collect for calls generated. So I’m wondering if they’re just testing to gauge user acceptance of it.
Mike,
Over here in the Netherlands I saw this a few times now and then.
Especially on mobile when searched on Android tablet. I even tried it but did not work. Probably because the local businesses do not know it. They must be capaple of it, data en computer speeds aswell as headsets, probably.
Most of the times it looks like tiny Google selftesting, hotels mostly. In there Google cards, a lot is happening, for instance searchers can book directly from that g-card in the hotel’s own reservation system , so without commissions to be paid for hotel-owner.
So why not give them direct connection ? Will speed up booking and directly at the owner?
I’m also seeing it for most, but not all of my searches. It does seem to only appear when the business is open, or it’s a 1-800 number.
Comments for this post are closed.