Local search has been fairly traditional since it has been deemed the “next big thing” in search. Today, Google Maps is more or less the standard for most consumers — search for a business in a specific region or location and map it out. But there are surely a lot advanced techniques not implemented with today’s local search, and GeoSpot looks to fill the gap.
Better than I could describe the service is this statement on its homepage: “Search deeper than just business name and location. Search for bars and restaurants that are open now, or at a time you specify (i.e. after 10pm). Search for individual services and products offered (drive-thru, burger, onion rings, chicken salad, etc.).”
With GeoSpot, you’re able to search for businesses and shops that are open right now, as opposed to which just exist. This way, when you’re looking for a component cable at 6pm and don’t know which shops are open, or where you can get a meal at 4:00am, GeoSpot can help you find it. For example, here is a list of currently open coffee shops in San Francisco.
I think this is one of the many “frontiers” of local search — there are many ways to search, organize, and sort through data that have yet to even be thought of apart from the usual “business name and location” — and as we add mapping to equation, it’ll be only sometime before we’ll have to worry about where to eat or shop. While Geospot isn’t much different to many of the other utilities currently, I hope it is able to stay ahead and innovate in this space.
