Google to use infoUSA data

[Chndru]

infoUSA today announced an agreement to license its U.S. business database to Google. This information will become available in Google Local, providing Google users access to its comprehensive directory of businesses in the United States.

[biz.yahoo.com...]

[blog.searchenginewatch.com...]

[Chicago]

This is interesting. Not only is this the first publically confirmed data source for Google Local, it the same data source as Y Local, and just may be a comment on the condition, accuracy, and comprehensiveness of their previous local data aggregration efforts, as well as infousa's leadership and comparative advantages in aggregating and confirming core, authoritative business data.

If result sets for local become very similar, which arguably they should (filtering aside), between Y and G, then the feature/function/ia/usability set and not the result set in and of itself will take center stage.

[sebster1]

"Not only is this the first publically confirmed data source for Google Local"

Actually, Yellow Pages Group has been providing data for Google Local Canada since September 2004.

[Webwork]

When InfoUSA finally manages to convert its database listings into PPC link feeds - offering to sell hotlinks to the companies incorporated into its database - and when InfoUSA implements a system to send it's filtered feeds directly to local websites, e.g. a feed of relevant local links to say WidgetCounty.tld, THAT'S WHEN things will get really interesting.

They're still little steps towards a cliff. The industry is still not taking the logical leaps it needs to survive. Living off of the SEs is another step in their demise, not their perpetuation IMHO.

When the list players finally wrestle their way to direct feeds via affilated networks of local sites then I'll bet the info collectors stand a chance of being viable and profitable for the long haul. They might even transform themselve's into SE killers, if they wake up and get out of bed with the SEs.

Given how slow they have been to wake up and adapt my money is still on their slow, painful demise.

[JeremyL]

When InfoUSA finally manages to convert its database listings into PPC link feeds - offering to sell hotlinks to the companies incorporated into its database - and when InfoUSA implements a system to send it's filtered feeds directly to local websites, e.g. a feed of relevant local links to say WidgetCounty.tld, THAT'S WHEN things will get really interesting.

Agreed