John Simonson, president of Webstream Dynamics, talks about the recent rollout of Local Services by Google, an update of what have been called Home Services. The initial rollout will be in 17 markets and will be expanded to 30 major markets by the end of the year. Initially this service covers the categories of plumbers, locksmiths, electricians, and HVAC and garage door repair services, later expanding to more services, which will likely include floor covering installation. The service is a lead-generating vehicle and subscribers only pay for the leads given them. Simonson talks about the rationale of the move, which is to better compete with Angie’s List and Home Advisor as well as Amazon Home and Business Services. Also discussed are services for small business and the advantages for retailers to spend for services like this.