GOOGLE ADDING INTERIOR PICTURES OF BUSINESSES TO PLACES

In conjunction with its Places service, Google is piloting a new, free feature for business owners. Being called Business Photos, Google is looking to supplement an establishment’s Places page with interior photographs. “Millions of potential customers visit Google every day to learn about places and businesses,” reads the company’s website. “Through scheduled photo shoots, Google is introducing a new way for you to showcase your business to the world.” In a handful of U.S. and international cities, business owners can apply to have a Google “photo shoot.” The search giant notes that demand will help them decide where to send its photographers

GOOGLE PLACES AVAILABLE FOR iOS

Google Places has been available for Android 1.6 and up for quite awhile. Now, the popular app is available for iOS devices. Google Places with Hotspot allows users to easily locate retail and service locations within their proximity. The Hotpot feature, as Google explains, brings a social component to local search:

If you want to make things even tastier, just visit google.com/hotpot from your desktop computer. Here you can add friends to the mix and quickly rate all the places you already know. Once you’ve added friends, you’ll find your results seasoned not just with reviews from around the web and recommendations based on your own personal taste, but also with your friends’ opinions too.

The initial release is in English only and is available in the app store now.

RUMOR: FACEBOOK ANNOUNCING FACEBOOK PHONE ON WEDNESDAY

Facebook is holding a media event on Wednesday November 3rd.  It is rumored the much talked about (but not as much as the Verizon iPhone) Facebook Phone will be announced.  Other speculation is that the long awaited Facebook app for the iPad will finally debut as well as a Deals type of service through Places. [TechCrunch]

Facebook launches Places

Facebook has announced they are launching a Foursquare competitor called Places. Places is designed for three things, to help you see where you are, help you see who's around and help you see what's going on nearby.

You can check in to your location and tag your friends with you.  Places will automatically check you in and create a news feed story showing where you are.  Facebook has also created an API for access to Places and Gowalla is the first partner to use it.  Rumor has it Foursquare and Yelp are also interested in using the API.

Places is available now for the iPhone, via an application update, and in Facebook's mobile website for advanced  mobile devices