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This guy took 99 used smartphones are transported...
This guy took 99 used smartphones are transported them in a small cart to generate a virtual traffic jam in Google Maps.
+29
votes
asked
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
This guy took 99 used smartphones are transported them in a small cart to generate a virtual traffic jam in Google Maps. By doing this, he proved it was possible to turn a green street red which has an impact in the physical world by navigating cars on another route to avoid being stuck in traffic. I wonder if this is possible to do the same thing, but visit a store or location--so make Google think that there is a bunch of people visiting a local business. Do you think it would have any impact on Google Maps rankings?
http://www.simonweckert.com/googlem...qNpRA
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19
Answers
+4
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
crudity
(
340
points)
It likely would work but there are easier ways
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+17
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
narcotize
(
21.6k
points)
I will forever attribute this specific Google Maps spam strategy to you, Bill. It is clever and brilliant and I hope you wear the mantle proudly. LOL!
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
But it's not really spam if they are separate phones, though, no?
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
narcotize
(
21.6k
points)
@
gomes
I guess technically it's not spam until a search engine forbids the practice. But if it becomes a thing I'll give you credit.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
phenothiazine
(
3.7k
points)
@
narcotize
think of all the "fake social media stats" phones lying around that can now be re-purposed.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
@
phenothiazine
you mean you aren't using your old phones for that already?
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+8
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
stanfill68171
(
410
points)
I think if done over time it would show that store being busier than other times. Like a peak in traffic.
Show 7 previous comments
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
stanfill68171
(
410
points)
I am pretty sure google could recognize the devices all sharing the same WiFi. Who’s to say that they don’t only count cellular connections.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
sheply52
(
1.3k
points)
@
stanfill68171
Sure. which is what happens at Starbucks. Sounds like a great indicator of traffic because they KNOW those devices are in your location.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
@
stanfill68171
They "can" technically, but what if you and I go to the same store, like Target, and use their wifi? We have different phones and let's say we don't know each other. Google would be seeing activity at that location.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
sheply52
(
1.3k
points)
@
gomes
True. lots of big box stores and grocery stores have free Wifi Now
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
sheply52
(
1.3k
points)
. and I guarantee they are using that Wifi to track your behavior and probably use your EMEI to load you into a custom audience
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0
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
punchball59914
(
5.6k
points)
I'm really curious to know how with geo targeting etc they didn't realise they were all next to each other like say on a bus.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
In this case Google didn't realize they were all next to each other. That's the funny part of it.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
kingfisher13887
(
14.3k
points)
@
punchball59914
geotargeting is not that accurate on the kind of msps Google is using. And, probably they don't even check thinks like that. Is America, they must be in cars
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
punchball59914
(
5.6k
points)
@
gomes
Weird isn't because surely they must know where 20 devices or so are in a bus or train. So why not in a cart? Lol
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
@
punchball59914
They know the location, but it's only accurate up to a few hundred feet, I believe.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
kingfisher13887
(
14.3k
points)
@
gomes
around 90 feet
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
punchball59914
(
5.6k
points)
@
gomes
interesting why he didn't creat a drawing being an artist and all has disappointed me somewhat I must say lol
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
galliett4713
(
210
points)
He had car navigation turned on on the phones, so that's usually a good indicator of driving…
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
maziar
(
4.2k
points)
@
kingfisher13887
except this was in germany
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
kingfisher13887
(
14.3k
points)
@
maziar
didn't knew that, thanks :)
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0
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
phenothiazine
(
3.7k
points)
Take the same 99 phones into the same location at the same time each day for 30 days straight. What do you think will happen to the "busy times" listed at that location?
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
Yeah, just buy those phones and turn them on every day.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
phenothiazine
(
3.7k
points)
@
gomes
sounds like a good revenue opportunity for mobile repair places or anyplace that rents mobile phones.
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+29
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
funkhouser18997
(
5.8k
points)
Wish he would search for my site with his phone s
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+27
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
I might have to start a new service. for $XXX I will visit your brick and mortar location with my bag of 99 iPhones.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
depoliti
(
1.2k
points)
@
gomes
but why limit yourself to 99. I mean. The possibilities are endless. Or at least we should first research on how much phones can a cell tower actually service. I guess that might be your limit right there
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+14
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
depoliti
(
1.2k
points)
It is likely, yeah. They don't have a way of identifying living souls just yet. Only devices.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
vanda
(
11.6k
points)
@
depoliti
hopefully dead people don't walk round the street with a phone in their pocket though
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
depoliti
(
1.2k
points)
That's true of course. But apparently those 99 phones don't have an actual living person attached to them now have they
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+4
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
bucovina7065
(
2.5k
points)
Game the engines, shall we? :)
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+18
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
barina
(
450
points)
Probably, we might see GMBs like, "Rent 99 Phones, LLC" in near future. New niche, new business, new possibilities. LOL.
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+9
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
bangka
(
3k
points)
Couldn’t you do the same with geofencing?
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+15
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
leucas2838
(
3.8k
points)
Maybe QDF type signal. if you replicated all those phones at a venue or an event what impact would that have after the first instance of that "swarm"
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+25
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
How much do you think the 99 phones cost. He has to have cell data on each phone to get the driving directions to work. So what, it's about 15-20. 00 per phone right? @
gomes
or is my math off.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
You can get them for $9 each, I've seen them for as low as $7 each in bulk. But I don't think it would take 99 phones, it would be interesting to test it at 50 phones.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
You still have to activate cell service though.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
@
si3
Hmmm. not necessarily. Couldn't one phone use a hotspot or they could use wifi ? Maps and location data still works on wifi.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
In theory yes, but with you moving around the block it would drop if your not close to a open wifi. I think "normal" test would be at least 20. 00 per phone (bulk purchase + data charge) Now if they had the phones on a plan, you can do 5 phones on my current plan (10. 00 to add each additional line + phone) I don't see it being cheaper then 20. 00 a phone either way.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
@
si3
correct. and there are so many other ways to monetize those phones, as well.
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
duralumin22455
(
480
points)
What about 1 mobile hotspot with all phones connected?
commented
Feb 3, 2020
by
dimorph28475
(
3k
points)
I'm not sure, but shit's a lot cheaper in Europe where this looks to have taken place. There's a million prepaid sim options
commented
Feb 4, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
@
narcotize
Whitener In theory yes. But you would have several drop bc it’s pulling 99 phones at once. I would do like 10-1 hotspot.
commented
Feb 4, 2020
by
duralumin22455
(
480
points)
@
si3.
Yeah, might need a few for that instead of 1.
commented
Feb 4, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
The other issue I found in doing some research this morning. All those 10 phones would have the same IP, we don't want that. We would want 1 ip per phone.
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+27
votes
answered
Feb 3, 2020
by
dimorph28475
(
3k
points)
Someone shoulda paid him to put in and follow driving directions to a local GMB on all the phones, and track the rankings before and after ;)
commented
Feb 4, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
@
dimorph28475
I think I’m going to attempt to do a similar test. @
gomes
any chance you cn help me find a large bulk buy on used phones for cheap? I will get 10 of them on hotspots and pull 10:10. I’ll pick a GMB in Rockford or Madison in heavy competition and do the diving directions for a few days.
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+27
votes
answered
Feb 4, 2020
by
precentor
(
790
points)
I'm pretty sure after this google will be able to differentiate between real users using their mobiles and such idle phones especially the fact that they are all so close together, its just something the developers didn't think about yet
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+28
votes
answered
Feb 4, 2020
by
solanum
(
2.1k
points)
And now for something completely different - sung to the tune of Neunundneunzig Luftballons "Hast du etwas Zeit für mich Dann singe ich ein Lied für dich Von 99 billiges handy Auf ihrem Weg zum Schlosserei"
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+10
votes
answered
Feb 4, 2020
by
si3
(
2.4k
points)
Setting up my own test
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGq...Mt7nw
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+26
votes
answered
Feb 11, 2020
by
apart65821
(
3.3k
points)
I was just thinking about something like this. 100 phones = 100 People = 100 Gmail accounts All or few phones go into a local business and come out then they leave a review from the same phone. Few phones return back next day and some return. Phones send traffic report, that the route is busy on the way to the local business from various different popular spotd and also send reviews everyday. Now, G thinks that this local business is more popular and very much in demand by the local residents and boosts it up in the local map pack. Some phones can also travel long distance to reach the local biz to grow proximity reach.
commented
Feb 11, 2020
by
phenothiazine
(
3.7k
points)
@
apart65821
Google is already tracking all of those things so they will definitely have a positive effect on results. What else do you think they use to determine the "best pizza place near me" other than an analysis of such signals?
commented
Feb 11, 2020
by
apart65821
(
3.3k
points)
@
phenothiazine
high level local guide reviews.
commented
Feb 11, 2020
by
phenothiazine
(
3.7k
points)
@
apart65821
Yep, like you already said. "All or few phones go into a local business and come out then they leave a review from the same phone. "
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+6
votes
answered
Feb 11, 2020
by
clearcut
(
2.9k
points)
Definitely gray hat there Bill. ;)
commented
Feb 11, 2020
by
gomes
(
4.1k
points)
I'm thinking black, Joe
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