Google patent promises free taxis to restaurants and entertainment venues
Google has patented technology which would offer free or discounted taxi rides to restaurants, shops and entertainment venues.
The system would run on Google's AdWords service and the free journeys would be underwritten by local advertisers wanting to lure customers to their businesses.
Smartphone users searching for places to eat or things to do would be presented with relevant local offers with the additional sweetener of free transport to get them there.
In its US patent for the "transportation-aware physical advertising conversions", Google explained: "Getting a potential customer to a business location in order to conduct a sale may be one of the most difficult tasks for a business or advertiser.
"An advertiser may have to offer various inducements, such as coupons, discounts, parking validations, in order to entice customers to the location.
"In some examples, ‘brick and mortar’ businesses may even be forced to invest in more costly real estate near high-traffic areas as opposed to lower-cost real estate in more isolated locations.
'These factors may create a significant financial burden to a business."
Businesses would compete for these advertising slots in the way they already do for Google's inventory of online ad space.