Google announced to widen its focus from purely digital and internet-related content (things their algorithms and crawlers have been focused on before) to not-so-easy-to-find-online data like prices for a dining table in your nearby local furniture shop.

Their take at it? They are partnering with large retailers (all over the US for now) to have detailed statistics from their local inventory, including direct phone numbers for easy ordering if you want that.

This rather manual (a deal needs to be closed) way of working seems strange for Google, but this clearly points out the fact that Google cannot be seen as an "websites" search engine, but as a front-end on top of an ever growing set of data.

Another threat for Yellow Pages all over the world. Another opportunity for retailers and local stores out there.