Google Places for iPhone – the location app lands

Google has jumped into the location-finding area with a bang – and an app – and it spells trouble for anyone else in that area.

Using your location, Google Places lists venues near you complete with thumbnail pictures from Google Streetview and star ratings plus with reviews pulled from elsewhere on the internet. You can call them, see them on a map, or go to the Google Place page.

It’s what apps like AroundMe and Yelp previously did, though they know face stiff competition from this smooth, functional app and the massive Google database powering it.

As you might expect it has a social aspect built in with the HotPot feature which lets you see places your friends have reviewed or rated. HotPot then uses that info to recommend places to you..

See Google Places on the iTunes store