The U.S.-only functionality uses GPS on your device to pinpoint your whereabouts and sort nearby results — right on the Google.com mobile homepage — into the following functional categories: Explore right here, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, and ATMs and banks.
In fact, the "Explore right here option" serves up an instant drop-down menu, providing you with results that are literally right in front of you. You'll immediately get a quick glance at a venue's Place Page rating and its distance from you. As a result, the simple and smart addition to the mobile Google experience is bound to be both a big time saver and a boon for Place Pages.
It's no mystery that Google is trying to attack mobile location-based services and customer review sites like Foursquare and Yelp head-on, and actively promote its Place Pages. This update is a natural progression to help it do just that. We do have to wonder, however, as to why the functionality isn't a part of the Google Mobile app yet.
If you're not clear about how Near Me Now works, you can watch this rather hokey video demonstration:
Near Me Now Screenshots
