Google Places, a free online service that enables a businessman to reach larger customers, has seen a 40 per cent jump in registration in India after addition of some new features to the product, according to Manik Gupta, Product Manager, Google India.

Google Places, earlier known as Local Business Centre, and re-branded two weeks ago, has now got some new features including ability to post updates, describing the area covered by a businessman, offering discount coupons and showing trends in real time, he told reporters here today.

Targeted at small entrepreneurs, Google Places which has been operational since last two years, enables a businessman to make his services and products known to his local consumers by being listed on the net all for free.

"India is a nation of small entrepreneurs and it is estimated that there are more than 30 million small businessmen in the country. However, only a fraction of these are online. We have also observed that one out of five searches on Google is related to a user's location and very often people are looking for local businesses", he said.

Google Places listing, helps businesses to reach out to customers in a specific target areas without spending time and money and in creating a full-scale internet presences.

Advantage of local listing on Google Places include that a businessman can control the content of the business listing that appears in Google Search and Google Maps. It can aid business by having consumers to post review about the services or products offered.