Google Phonebook – Get your name in lights!

I stumbled across this result on Google today. On a search for boxer Ricky Hatton up popped a result I had never seen before, a phonebook listing for somebody in the US named Ricky Coil along with his phone number and address. I had heard they were planning a phonebook tool but this is the first time I have witnessed it for myself.

On clicking through the link you are taken to the Google Phonebook page which includes the option to view the persons address on Google Maps. On further investigation though the tool doesn’t appear to work yet, further searches for common names return no results and also a direct search for the initial result under the persons exact name also brought no results back. Looks like another case of Google doing some selective testing on a new product prior to full launch.

Obviously it will take Google a while to build a full directory, unless they do so through purchasing one, so it may be a while till this becomes common place. Not sure Id want my details plastered all over Google but I suppose if it is a purely opt in service then there should be no complaints.