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Here’s an interesting side note to Googlephone (aka “Nexus One”) day — Google is still experimenting with its “click-to-call” program for advertisers on “high-end mobile devices”. Coincidence?<\/p>\n
From Search Engine Land<\/a>:<\/p>\n Google sent out notification to its AdWords advertisers that this month \u201cyour location-specific business phone number will display alongside your destination url in ads that appear on high-end mobile devices. Users will be able to click-to-call your business just as easily as they click to visit your website. You\u2019ll be charged for clicks to call, same as you are for clicks to visit your website.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Note that this offer doesn’t appear to be specific to phones running Google’s (GOOG) Android operating system. And it appears to be running in addition<\/em> to Google’s practice of providing phone numbers in organic search results, which also essentially provide “click to call” options for smartphone users.<\/p>\n In Greg Sterling’s words: “This is a version, effectively, of \u201cpay-per-phone call\u201d but the cost per call is the same as a click \u2014 a bargain (generally speaking) for the advertisers to receive a \u201cwarm lead.\u201d”<\/p>\n Google first started playing around with “click to call” programs for conventional Web search 4 years ago — in that scenario, you gave Google your phone number (this was designed for landline use, really) and it connected calls to advertisers on your behalf.<\/p>\n Google eventually moved on, since no one seemed to use it (though you can still see traces of the program here<\/a>). But connecting mobile users with advertisers ought to be a very lucrative proposition, so no surprise that Google is still chasing after this.<\/p>\n Buy This Item: [Click here to buy this item]<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n