Favorite Places on Google
Tomi H�s�
"We've identified over 100,000 businesses in the U.S. as "Favorite Places
on Google" based on Google users' interaction with local business
listings. Each business is receiving a window decal with a unique QR code
that you scan with your phone to read reviews, star the business as your
own favorite and more. Check out a few of the favorites below, and try
scanning a code."
http://google.com/favoriteplaces
http://www.google.com/help/maps/favoriteplaces/gallery/#los-angeles-ca
Google: Favorite Places
"What's that bar code?"
"This unique bar code on the lower right of the sticker (known as a QR
code) lets customers - and potential customers - instantly learn more
about a business, by visiting a mobile version of the business' Place Page
on any supported phone. Here's more on how it works and what you can do
with it"
"Make sure your phone can scan a QR code with its camera, either with an
application that you download or via software that's already installed on
your phone. To find out what application to use for your phone, we
recommend doing a Google search for the model of your phone along with "QR
reader"."
"When you see a QR code, use your phone's application to scan it. If
you're scanning a QR code on one of the window decals that we've sent to
thousands of U.S. businesses, you'll quickly be taken to that business'
mobile Place Page on Google"
http://www.google.com/help/maps/favoriteplaces/business/barcode.html
Explore a whole new way to window shop, with Google and your mobile phone
December 7, 2009
"What if you could decide where to shop, eat or hang out, with a little
help from local Google users?"
"It might take you a while to ask them all, so to make it easier we've
launched a new effort to send window decals to over 100,000 local
businesses in the U.S. that have been the most sought out and researched
on Google.com and Google Maps. We're calling these businesses the
"Favorite Places on Google" and you'll now start to find them in over
9,000 towns and cities, in all 50 states. You can also explore a sample of
the Favorite Places in 20 of the largest U.S. cities at
google.com/favoriteplaces. Each window decal has a unique bar code, known
as a QR code that you can scan with any of hundreds of mobile devices -
including iPhone, Android-powered phones, BlackBerry and more - to take
you directly to that business's Place Page on your mobile phone. With your
mobile phone and these new decals, you can easily go up to a storefront
and immediately find reviews, get a coupon if the business is offering one
or star a business as a place you want to remember for the future. Soon,
you'll be able to leave a review on the mobile page as well, just like on
your desktop."
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/explore-whole-new-way-to-window-shop.html