Updated on Thursday, December 07, 2006, 00:00 IST

Bangalore, Dec 07: Google on Thursday announced the launch of its online advertising product 'click-to-call' in India, which will allow users to call directly to an advertiser on Google search pages.

The new 'click-to-call' ads are identified by a green telephone handset icon located next to the text, a company statement said.

"Besides offering speed and convenience, Google click-to-call ads will protect privacy of the users by blocking his/her phone number from the advertiser."

Click-to-call would increase the usefulness of the internet for shoppers, merchants and advertisers in India," said Google India head of sales Sundararaman K said.

Bureau Report