I was just undertaking a submission for Google's Local Business Centre, looking at getting this business listed here.

In the past the only way to complete this entry was to ask Google to send a postcard to the business address that you entered into this listing.

Now though this has been updated to allow a number of different verification methods:

It is now possible to request a phone call, to receive a text message or still use the postcard method to verify this listing with Google.

I'm yet to use either of these options, but thereotically I would imagine that they will be quicker than the postcard method, as a phone call or a text should be near instantaneous, unless there is a backlog or queue.

They still assure the quality of the listing, because the phone number is part of the listing, you cant just ask them to call any old number to complete the verification process.