Google Data

Last Saturday I had dinner at a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco's Richmond District. While it didn't look like much from the outside, the inside displayed a variety of Southeast Asian antiques and the walls were adorned with tapestries and bamboo. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and the phở was the best I've had in the city -- just the right amount of spice tempered with bean sprouts and fresh cilantro. When I finished my meal, I took out my phone and wrote a five-star review on Google. By the time the check came, my review was already incorporated into the business listing.

Now you can share your opinions on local businesses by rating and reviewing them right from your mobile phone. It's easy, fast, and a great way to pass the time while you're waiting for the check! Here's all you have to do:

• Go to www.google.com on your mobile browser
• Search for the business by name and location like "pot pho sf ca”
• Click on the business name on the results page to view details
• Scroll down and click on "Sign in to write/edit your review"

This new mobile feature uses the same database found on Google Maps on the desktop, so when you rate and review a business from your phone, your opinions are also published to the millions of Google Maps users around the world. You can even click on the My Profile link in Maps to see all of the businesses you've reviewed.

For now, this feature is available on non-iPhone handsets in the US. Stay tuned for an iPhone version and international coverage.

Posted by Josh Siegel, Product Manager, Google mobile team