A couple of hours ago Vic Gundotra announced that Google+ is beginning a limited rollout of vanity URLs. This is designed to allow people to go from having a personal page URL of something like: https://plus.google.com/u/0/109938202835872364257/posts to something like: http://google.com/+GeekBeat
According to Vic:
We are rolling out vanity URLs now. Please be patient with us. Initial rollout is to a few thousand pages and verified people. In the upcoming months we will go further.
I was fortunate enough to be included in this rollout, though my preassigned URL was google.com/+JohnPozadzides. And since no one can spell my name I requested the shorter google.com/+JohnP. (Which is what you all call me anyway!)
Geek Beat was also included in the rollout, and I accepted the preassigned google.com/+GeekBeat. Here’s exactly what the process looked like.
Step 1
When I refreshed the page, this notification appeared at the top of the screen.
Step 2
After clicking Claim URL, this page came up.
Step 3
Next it asked me to finally confirm, and warned that it can’t ever be changed.
Step 4
Finally, it told me it was done and invited me to advertise the new vanity URL!
I thought the process was straight forward and excellently executed! I’m a little sad that when I requested a different one they said it can take a few days for approval, but I’m hopeful that I’ll get the one I requested. I’ll let you guys know what happens on Google+!
Did you get yours yet, or are you still waiting? Share a link to your profile in the comments please!!! 
Since this is being sent out to pre-approved/verified folks, bet your bottom dollar there is going to be plenty of backlash on this process. Not having a place at the table when these are doled out is going to make tons of people very unhappy.
OMG, you’re right Gio! Thank God I’m not one of them!
Yep: http://google.com/+puremvc is up and running. Woop!
Yeah, I can see where the steps are so complicated we’d need a how-to article explaining the process.
Glad I found your post. I just checked my company’s page and we were one of the pre-approved. I was worried our name would be claimed by someone else before we could get to it, glad that wasn’t the case!
http://google.com/+k12 – we’re in business!
Haven’t got mine yet and suspect I will be one of the last ones to get one!!!
Thank you for the info! Signed up and ready to go:
gplus.to/ptecpro
Cheers