One business’s “feature” is this privacy advocate’s “breach-waiting-to-happen.” Joe Cadillic sends along this report from Mallory Locklear:
Last year, Google began rolling out a feature that let users message businesses through their Google profiles. Now, it’s integrating that feature into Google Maps. Any messages you’ve sent to businesses through their Google profiles will now be accessible in Maps for iOS and Android. Just tap the menu button, and then “Messages,” and you’ll be able to see those conversations without having to leave the app. Google is also bringing the messaging feature to more countries this week.
Read more on engadget.
The yellow book owned by an RBOC would sell businesses a guaranteed results contract.
This was accomplished by providing a new phone number to the business that was only advertised in the phone book, nowhere else. Monthly statements would show how many calls came through that number on the bill and the duration.
Guaranteed results.
Except that phone books were published annually and advertisers were required to pay monthly for their advertising. Once the book was published, if the storage didn’t pay any more, it was too late, before the guaranteed results phone number. With that, if they didn’t pay, just turn off the phone number or sell it to a competitor.
Seems Google is learning this tactic, just in a new way. Perhaps?