GeoSpot Archive

Local mobile search provider GeoSpot is out with a new beta of their Mobile Web service today. Ignore the fact that they have an absolutely ugly logo – let’s look at what their service offers. Most local search offerings return results for the search regardless of whether the location is open currently. GeoSpot changes this by only displaying results of locations that are open currently or at a time you define.

With gas nearing $5/gallon, GeoSpot’s search can save you on wasted trips only to find out that the location is closed. Once you find a POI (point-of-interest) that you are interested in, you can drill down deeper into that location (see below) or one-click to call the location if needed. 

This is the first local search that I’ve seen that matches results to available times. How they will keep that database current is beyond me. While I like the idea a lot, what happens when a merchant complains because the system cost the store a sale because GeoSpot had the wrong availability listed? Please note that the service only works in California and Nevada currently and only "really" works in San Francisco which is quite lame.

Local search on mobile devices might be the hottest mobile sector currently. When we interviewed Snooth, they discussed the importance of searching for a wine on their system and finding a local merchant who had the wine in-stock currently. They used GPS and triangulation to figure out where you are and offer you merchant options. With the iPhone 3G soon on the market with its GPS offering, I believe we will see an even greater uptick in applications built for local.