Google Acquires Zagat

[YosemiteSam]

It seems this was done to bolster their local search content. Considering their major investment in mobile computing, this makes a lot of sense. It puts more local information in the hands of smartphone users.

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Did you know there's a place in Menlo Park near the Safeway that has a 27 food rating?” one of my friends asked me that about two years ago, and I was struck because I immediately knew what it meant. Food rating... 30 point scale... Zagat. And the place... had to be good. With no other context, I instantly recognized and trusted Zagat's review and recommendation.

So, today, I'm thrilled that Google has acquired Zagat. Moving forward, Zagat will be a cornerstone of our local offering—delighting people with their impressive array of reviews, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary (and ordinary) experiences around the corner and around the world.

Official Google Announcement.

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

Going after Yelp it would seem?

 

[Cowboy Brian]

Going after Yelp it would seem?

I always thought Zagat was bigger?

 

[Meat-O-Rama]

I always thought Zagat was bigger?

I don't doubt it, but which is growing quicker recently. Everyone wants to make everything some part of some social network and (maybe I've missed it) Zagat does not seem to have gotten on that train. So google buys them for their content and name recognition and social mediaficates it and boom, no more yelp.