this has got to be another goog poly.

gathering phone numbers to push more gmail accounts?

<humbug> Great! Now more people can tell more lies to their kids. </humbug>

gathering phone numbers to push more gmail accounts

That would be evil if Google tried to glean corporate benefits on the backs of small children and Santa Claus, (wouldn't it?)

...I did not enter my correct birth date or any phone numbers -- I only went through the screens as far as hearing what the message would be -- then bailed.

Great! Now more people can tell more lies to their kids

I think Eric Schmidt, (and that guy that stole, err.. "created" Facebook), said if Santa didn't have anything to hide, he wouldn't be on the web ;-)

This escapes (probably) "unsolicited calling" because somebody else gave them "your number". Other websites, political action, etc. are using variations of the same. All of it feels creepy to me, and can be so easily turned toward malevolent means.

(and that guy that stole, err.. "created" Facebook)

You don't mean that someone took anothers ideas and is likely to become richer than the people who thought it up as they have been sidelined ? Surely not :)
Otherwise he would be a nasty person...