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Mike Blumenthal reports Google is limiting some of the verification options for new businesses.
If a business is "new to Google" then Google may require a physical post card be delivered to the new business for verification the slow way. I assume this is just an additional form of Google spam prevention.
The quote Mike has from Google reads:
I understand there have been some recent questions about verification methods. If a business is new to Google, certain verification methods may be unavailable depending on the information provided for the business.
Of course this will delay the process for new businesses to authorize their businesses with Google, but I also hope this helps reduce some of the Google Maps spam.
Forum discussion at Google Places Help.
Comments:
David Iwanow
01/24/2011 01:33 pm
Oh that is going to really help small business that much more... try waiting over two months for bulk upload verification... not good enough
David Rodecker
01/24/2011 05:22 pm
We haven't noticed any significant increase in the phone verification ratio. About 18 months ago the verification process seemed to have relaxed a bit in allowing phone tracking numbers. This is likely the return of a higher degree of scrutiny. Also, bear in mind that the PBX land-line database that Google's & Craigslist verification system use for phone verification are just like any other information source; so we might just be looking at an update in that database.