I dont know when it happened, but the API to search Googles GeoIndex seems to have gone live. The documentation is here (http method) and here (javascript). I actully found this via the recently announced Google Maps API for Flash, which is also good.
/me wanders off to play (but dont have much time at the moment 
)
but before I go, I note that the api doesn’t appear to offer KML output :p
… unless of course the actual GeoSearch API is something bigger!
update: try it out:
Not much to look at, but does show the json in a slightly easier to read format. Of course need to make a Maps API based map to try it out, but not tonight… (but did get as far as KML output – with source code!)
update2: Its been formally announced! (also if you find the ‘blended’ doesnt return results you expect, see this thread
